In marine ammonia news to begin 2024, we explore a volume-efficient, “prismatic” ammonia fuel tank design, a new long-term charter for ammonia shipping in the Pacific region, and two global gas exporters ordering ammonia-capable carriers for their fleets.
GE Vernova and IHI Corporation will proceed to the engineering and testing phase for their ammonia gas turbine roadmap for Asia. Based on their efforts in 2022 to demonstrate a low-N2O combustor for a 2 MW, 100% ammonia-fired turbine, IHI will lead development of a two-stage combustor for larger-scale gas turbine models.
ACME and IHI have signed an offtake agreement for the supply of renewable ammonia from the pair’s under-development production plant in Odisha, eastern India. On a long-term basis, 400,000 tons per year will be transported, with production to begin in 2027. A number of other Indian production projects were launched this month.
MAN Energy Solutions has announced that the first SCR catalytic converter for a marine ammonia engine has passed factory tests and been delivered to Japan. Produced in China by stainless steel specialists BUTTING, the unit is designed to significantly reduce NOx emissions from ammonia combustion engines.
MHI has successfully combustion-tested its ammonia single-fuel burners. The tests confirmed that the burners are capable of complete and stable combustion, producing reduced NOx emissions relative to coal firing. The test will now be run at a larger scale to simulate actual operations.
The Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore and six Japanese ports will establish a “Green and Digital Shipping Corridor” between the two countries. The partners will embark on pilot projects and trials for alternative maritime fuels including ammonia, and work together to develop the necessary bunkering infrastructure, regulatory & training standards.
To power its global HQ and key manufacturing complex in Hiroshima, Mazda plans to completely substitute the fuel supply at MCM Energy Service coal power plant away from coal by 2035, enabling “power generation based solely on the combustion of liquid ammonia”. The fuel switch is part of a broader strategy to achieve carbon neutrality across global operations by 2035.
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.
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.