Tsubame BHB was chosen as a “2025 Global Cleantech 100” firm.

Akura | Yokohama, Kanagawa Pref. Representative Director and CEO: Koji Nakamur), which promotes the social implementation and commercialisation of dispersed ammonia production facilities, has been recognised to Cleantech Groups. This annual 2025 Global Cleantech 100 ranking, now in its 16th year, highlights the most promising private cleantech businesses contributing significantly to sustainable innovation.

Tsubame BHB was founded in 2017 as a venture firm at the Institute of Science Tokyo (previously the Tokyo Institute of Technology) with the vision of “addressing social issues, including environmental and food problems, using our unique state-of-the-art technologies.” Its mission is to contribute to the on-site generation of ammonia in distributed facilities by utilising technologies that synthesise ammonia at low temperatures and pressure. Tsubame BHB employs electride catalyst technology pioneered by Professor Emeritus Hideo Hosono and is focussing on their international deployment, particularly in North and South America, Australia, and Africa.

With the latest selection, the company was recognised for its revolutionary technology that allows for the production of ammonia at low temperatures and pressures while reducing environmental effect in contrast to conventional technologies. Ammonia, in addition to its use in fuel and chemical fertilisers, has emerged as a key ingredient for establishing a carbon-neutral society. Tsubame BHB will continue to work towards greater environmental value and a carbon neutral society by implementing manufacturing techniques that use renewable energy.

Tsubame BHB’s major accomplishments

Last year, Tsubame BHB welcomed its first outside investors and raised around 5.3 billion yen in a Series C round of funding. It has received significant international recognition, including being the first Japanese company chosen for the “Startup Scale Program” in Germany. Tsubame BHB recently hosted CEO Martins Brinins of MP INDUSTRIES, an Estonian developer of green hydrogen projects. A group representing PT PLN, an Indonesian government-owned power company, also visited Tsubame BHB’s pilot plant. This suggests that many countries are exhibiting a growing interest in the company’s technologies.

In Japan, the company has also received an order for a second unit to be installed as a small industrial ammonia manufacturing facility, and ammonia production is expected to begin this year at Tsubame BHB’s first commercial unit in a small ammonia synthesis facility, which is being introduced for comprehensive verification tests in the manufacture and use of blue hydrogen and ammonia.

About Global Cleantech 100 (https://www.cleantech.com/the-global-cleantech-100/).

Cleantech Group launched the Global Cleantech 100 initiative in 2009. Cleantech® Group is a research-driven organisation that assists corporations, the public sector, investors, and others in identifying, evaluating, and engaging with creative solutions and opportunities related to the world’s huge and expanding environmental and climatic concerns. Their views and experience are shared with clients all over the world via our Research, Consulting, and Events. The cleantech theme is primed for watershed moments in 2025, as market forces strengthen and innovation accelerates. Continuing themes from 2024, including as regulatory uncertainty, pioneering first-of-a-kind (FOAK) initiatives, and increased demand for climate adaption technology, will highlight the relevance of product and project economics.

“The year 2025 will be remembered for its dramatic impact on cleantech. “The bar has been raised for what level of potential novelty, uniqueness, and cost savings may be appealing,” said Richard Youngman, CEO of Cleantech Group. “The Global Cleantech 100 highlights innovators who are building the foundation for a sustainable and economically viable future.”

Regarding Tsubame BHB (https://tsubame-bhb.co.jp/)

Tsubame BHB is a deep technology firm with the vision of “tackling social issues, including environmental and food problems, using our unique state-of-the-art technologies.” Its mission is to contribute to the on-site production of ammonia at small-scale, distributed plants by utilising technologies that synthesise ammonia at low pressures and temperatures. Tsubame BHB, founded in 2017, uses electride catalyst technology created by Tokyo Tech’s Professor Emeritus Hosono. The company is currently expanding its international deployment of these technologies, primarily in North and South America, Australia and Africa. In 2023, the Japanese government encouraged the firm to set up a pavilion at the UN Climate Change Conference in Dubai (COP28). We are the only Japanese company selected for Germany’s Startup Scale Program in 2024, and we are now promoting cooperation with companies primarily in the EU.

An overview of the company

Name: Tsubame BHB Co.,Ltd.
Representative Director and CEO: Koji Nakamura.
URL is https://tsubame-bhb.co.jp/
Head Office: 2-3-12. Shin-Yokohama, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. Shin-Yokohama Square Building, 6F
Established: April 2017.
Outline of Business

R&D, sales, and facilities maintenance for on-site ammonia supply systems.
R&D, manufacturing, and commercialisation of synthetic ammonia catalysts.
Production and sale of ammonia and ammonia-related items

Source: Tsubame BHB Co.,Ltd.