The Norway-based technology developer has announced successful testing of a 6 kW, ammonia-fed solid oxide fuel cell unit. The test unit is seen as the “first building block” of a larger 100 kW module to be stacked & used for marine propulsion.
Yara and Bunker Holding will look to accelerate the supply of ammonia bunker fuel to first movers in the shipping industry, focusing on key trading routes and port locations. In Norway, Equinor and Azane Fuel Solutions will undertake a new project, aiming to demonstrate how Norway’s offshore sector can be decarbonised by 2030 via the use of clean ammonia fuel.
The pair will join forces to promote the adoption of low-carbon ammonia fuel in the maritime sector, with an initial focus on US inland waterways transportation. Amogy has also signed a new agreement to explore the potential retrofit of vessels in Skansi’s offshore service supply fleet with its ammonia-to-power technology system.
A new MoU between WinGD and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding will see the deployment of WinGD’s X-DF-A ammonia-fueled engines to a range of vessels. In Norway, Wärtsilä has unveiled a safety system designed for continuous onboard monitoring of ammonia leaks, featuring a staged combustion process to deal with accidental releases. And classification society DNV has awarded AiP to two significant ammonia-fueled vessel designs: the MS NoGAPs, and Viridis Bulk Carriers’ short sea bulk carrier.
Norwegian technology developer Pherousa announced that it has developed & validated an ammonia cracking-based propulsion system, with plans to order six Ultramax vessels fitted with the technology. Grieg Maritime has ordered up to four ammonia-ready bulk carriers from China State Shipbuilding Corporation for delivery in 2026. And a new container ship design has been unveiled by the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping.
New industry partnerships between suppliers, offtakers and existing infrastructure owners will boost confidence for project developers in the fast-growing renewable ammonia industry. Recent announcements from Namibia, Germany and Norway demonstrate that a comprehensive ammonia supply chain is being established between Europe and key global locations, making FID & project investment decisions more straightforward.
Norway-based North Ammonia will supply at least 100,000 tonnes per year of ammonia fuel to Höegh Autoliners from 2030, powering their future fleet of Aurora class car carriers. Grid-based electrolysis will feed production of ammonia in Eydehavn on Norway’s south coast, with bunkering to take place somewhere in the Amsterdam-Rotterdam Antwerp area. In more maritime ammonia news out of Norway this week, Skarv Shipping will receive government funding to develop cargo vessels featuring ammonia-powered, four-stroke engines.
In maritime ammonia updates this week:
Amon Maritime has launched a new subsidiary - Amon Offshore - which will build, own and operate a fleet of ammonia-powered platform supply vessels, to operate off Norway’s coast. The new PSV design has already received AiP for ammonia notation from DNV, and preliminary flag approval from Norwegian Maritime Authorities. We also explore two more AiP for ammonia-powered vessels in China: a 16,000 TEU container ship and a 50,000 tonne, mid-range oil/chemical tanker.