In the latest episode of Project Features, Foshan Xianhu Laboratory and Monalisa Group explored a recent demonstration of ammonia combustion for industrial fabrication of ceramic tiles in China. Retrofits of the gas-powered production lines, safe, low-emission ammonia combustion, a multi-level DeNOX approach, target markets, and future ammonia fuel demand potential in China were discussed.
The Newcastlemax vessel is expected to be delivered to Fortescue by the end of 2026, and will feature WinGD’s X‑DF‑A dual-fuel engine. The vessel is one of a series under construction at Qingdao Beihai Shipbuilding in China.
The collaboration integrates MAN’s dual-fuel engine technology with COSCO Shipping Heavy Industry's repair and vessel modification capabilities.
The 20,000 ton, semi-submersible, energy self-sufficient platform will begin commercial trials in northeast China. Electrolytic hydrogen will be fed into methanol and ammonia production, targeting marine fuel and chemical feedstock markets.
Between 2026 and 2029, Mitsui O.S.K Lines will add three ammonia-powered Capesize bulkers and six chemical tankers to its fleet through joint ownership and chartership with CMB.TECH. MOL, Namura Shipbuilding and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding have also received AiP from ClassNK for a large-size ammonia-powered ammonia carrier.
Alfa Laval has signed its first contract for its new ammonia fuel supply system, FCM Ammonia. The system will be installed onboard seven LPG/ammonia carriers being built in China, each featuring WinGD’s X-DF-A engine.
With commercial deployment scheduled to start this June, both WinGD and MAN ES’s under-development ammonia fueled engines have reported promising results across performance, ammonia safety and emissions optimisation parameters. MAN ES and MITSUI have also commenced a commercial-scale prototype test of the MITSUI-MAN ES large-bore, low-speed, two-stroke ammonia engine in Tamano, Japan.
Meet Foshan Xianhu Laboratory and Monalisa Group, two partners in an ammonia for heat demonstration project in China. In September 2024, ammonia fuel completely replaced gas in one production line for manufacturing of ceramic tiles at Monalisa’s Guangdong plant. The fuel switch did not compromise the color and quality of the produced ceramic tiles, and partners are working to roll ammonia fuel out onto other production lines.
