ACWA Power will develop a 150,000 tonnes-per-year renewable ammonia project in Indonesia, powered by 600 MW of wind and solar energy. The Saudi-based company also commenced construction on the first phase of its 500,000 tonnes-per-year renewable ammonia project in Uzbekistan, and has progressed development of a renewable mega-project near the Suez Canal.
Amogy & Azane Fuel Solutions will explore the use of Amogy’s ammonia-to-power system on board Azane’s ammonia bunker vessel concept. In Norway, Amogy has announced two new initiatives: one with Green Ships and Bourbon Horizons to deploy its propulsion system on a series of new Platform Service Vessels, and another to cooperate on supply chain development with ammonia fuel producer Hy2gen. Amogy, Mitsubishi and SK Innovations have also announced a new partnership to explore the large-scale deployment of Amogy’s ammonia cracking technology in Japan & Korea.
IHI & Vopak will explore the development and operation of large-scale ammonia terminals in Japan, focused on the cost-effective distribution of ammonia imports. In the Netherlands, Proton Ventures reports that work on the conversion of Vesta Terminal’s existing site into an ammonia import hub is on schedule for FID to be made by 2024. And in other Proton Ventures news, the organisation has been awarded a FEED contract with Geldof to develop an ammonia terminal in Western Africa.
Following a successful engine retrofit, FFI’s dual fuel vessel debuted at COP28 this month. Unable to run on or carry ammonia fuel due to restrictions from local authorities, FFI Chairman Andrew Forrest called for the world’s ports to catch-up to technological progress and update their regulations. FFI will also be a key part of the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub (one of seven hubs awarded funding by the US DoE), and has added to its vertical integration capabilities with the opening of a new technical innovation centre in the UK.
Maersk Tankers has ordered up to ten very large ammonia carriers (VLACs) from Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HHI). The Korean-built vessels will have a capacity of 93,000 m3, with Maersk to make a decision to install ammonia-capable engines based on “regulatory and customer” support.
ISCC PLUS-certified renewable ammonia from Fertiglobe will be used in a low-carbon laundry powder demonstration project by Unilever in India. In Germany, bio-ammonia produced by OCI Global (also ISCC PLUS-certified) will be used to produce methylmethacrylate, a key feedstock in PLEXIGLAS® production. The two announcements join a number of supply chains which have now incorporated low-carbon and renewable ammonia.
Höegh expects the first pair of ammonia-powered car carriers to be delivered late next year from China Merchants Heavy Industry at the Jiangsu Shipyard in China. This month, a new LNG/ammonia tank was installed in the first of the vessels, and MAN ES engines have arrived from Korea, with installation to take place in early December. Höegh has also announced a partnership with Yara Clean Ammonia to develop a future supply of ammonia fuel for the vessels.
NYK reports the retrofitting of the LNG-fueled tugboat Sakigake has begun in Yokohama. An ammonia-fueled engine developed by IHI Power Systems, NYK, Japan Engine Corporation and Nihon Shipyard will replace the conventional system on board, with the tug due to hit the water by 2024. NYK & Chilean copper producer CODELCO have also announced they are developing an ammonia-powered Handymax bulk carrier, aiming to develop a fleet to service the cross-Pacific copper trade.
In Kazakhstan, the Hyrasia One project & Semurg Invest will develop a transport route for up to 11 million tonnes of renewable ammonia per year to the EU, via Port Kuryk on the Caspian Sea.
