IHI Corporation, state-owned utility PLN Indonesia Power, and state-owned fertilizer company Pupuk have announced the successful completion of an ammonia co-firing trial at the Labuan power plant on Java’s west coast.
Here, we explore the current demonstration landscape for large-scale cracking. To produce pipeline-quality hydrogen at future energy import hubs, industrial-scale ammonia cracking is still to be derisked and demonstrated, although certain parts of the overall process have been proven at scale. What are the technology elements to be considered, and who are the first-movers deploying the technology in a variety of global locations?
MUCC has commenced commercial-scale testing of ammonia co-firing in the cement manufacturing process. The company is targeting a calorific replacement ratio of 30% for both the calciner and cement kiln.
The pair will jointly develop a new small-size, 100% ammonia-capable turbine for maritime applications. Tests will be completed by the end of 2027, after which the ~16 MW unit will be commercially available for orders.
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.
WinGD has received orders for its 52-bore X-DF-A ammonia-fuelled engines for seven LPG/ammonia dual-fuel carriers. Germany’s Hapag-Lloyd has ordered 24 modern vessels from Chinese shipyards, among them 12 ammonia-ready newbuilds.
Japan Engine Corporation (J-ENG) announced that it has completed test operations on its low-speed, 2-stroke engine, with installation and subsequent trial operations due to begin in April 2025. Installation will be onboard one of the first ammonia-fueled vessels to hit the water: the NYK-led midsized gas carrier project.
During the recent 2024 Ammonia Energy Conference, we explored all the latest developments in ammonia-powered maritime propulsion. Engine makers reported strong progress ahead of deployment in 2026, the same year that large-scale vessels will hit the water. The panel explored early operations for the ammonia-powered A-Tug in Japan, as well as ancillary technology systems required for maritime ammonia engines, catalyst after-treatment systems for emission mitigation, and the potential for fuel additives to boost ammonia engine performance.
Backed by the German Federal Government, MAN Energy Solutions will lead a consortium building on previous work to design and test an ammonia-powered four-stroke engine for marine applications.
