Hintco is inviting applications from renewable hydrogen and related fuel producers to participate in its supply-side auctions focussing on bidders from Africa, Asia, America & Oceania, and North America.
Ammonigy, Heraeus Precious Metals and the Technical University of Darmstadt have partnered to demonstrate operations using cracked ammonia fuel in a four-stroke MAN test engine. The performance and efficiency of the test engine when running on ammonia-hydrogen fuel was comparable to natural gas operations, and use of an exhaust aftertreatment system reduced potentially harmful nitrogen-based emissions to near-zero levels.
Ammonia cracking tech provider Ammonigy and leading German brick manufacturer Juwö Poroton led the project, successfully demonstrating a pilot-sized brick kiln that runs on cracked ammonia fuel gas. The cracked ammonia-fired bricks were virtually “indistinguishable from bricks fired with natural gas”.
IRENA’s new market analysis forecasts a diverse landscape of commodity flows based on electrolytic hydrogen by 2050, with ammonia predicted to be both the most in-demand and the “most traded” of the hydrogen commodities. IRENA predicts flows of more than 100 million tons per year by mid-century, with major exporters to potentially include China and the USA.
As part of the new joint venture, the pair will lead construction of two 51,530 m3 ammonia-fueled ammonia carriers, which will also be capable of carrying LPG. Contracts have to build the vessels near Shanghai, with deliveries scheduled to take place in June and October 2028.
Japan Bank for International Cooperation and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation will fully finance Mitsui & Co.’s investment in the Blue Point mega-project in the USA. The project – which will entail around $4 billion total investment – reached FID earlier this year.
Envision’s newly commissioned, AI-enabled, off-grid renewable ammonia production facility in Chifeng will produce 320,000 tons per year, with the first exports planned for Q4 this year.
A new strategy roadmap launched alongside the recent AEA APAC conference envisions Port Hedland in the Pilbara region as a major clean fuel bunkering hub. In news from roadmap partners, Oceania Maritime Energy and SeaTech Solutions have received approval in principle for their ammonia bunkering vessel design (also at the APAC conference), and BHP has signed time charter contracts for two ammonia dual fuel Newcastlemax bulk carriers to carry iron ore to northeast Asia.
Following the passage of new legislation in the USA, the timeline has been set for hydrogen and ammonia producers to benefit from 45V tax credits. Construction on renewable hydrogen projects must begin by January 1, 2028, providing a short window of opportunity, particularly for the regional Hydrogen Hubs.
With $25 million in funding from the Norwegian Government, Amon Marine will develop two ammonia-powered bulk carriers, entering into a new vessel market. Also in Norway, Færder Tankers has received approval in principle for their design of a 50,000 cubic metre capacity dual fuel ammonia medium carrier and bunkering vessel.