The journey from the laboratory bench to the shop floor continues apace in 2021, as researchers deepen their understanding of ammonia combustion within engines. The team at Université d’Orléans has published several pieces of research already this year, with interesting results on operating limits, spray characteristics and flame propagation.
French organisation Gaztransport & Technigaz (GTT) will design the fuel tanks for five LNG-fueled container vessels (15,000 CTU each) based on its Mark III, ammonia-ready membrane containment system. Vessel deliveries are scheduled for late 2023 to early 2024.
Nutrien and Exmar will cooperate to deploy an ammonia-powered vessel on the water by 2025, with the fuel to be sourced from Nutrien's low-carbon ammonia production facility in Geismar, Louisiana. Together, the two organisations will select an ammonia-powered engine, a supply system manufacturer and a shipyard capable of constructing the vessel.
Led by RINA with 21 project partners, the ENGIMMONIA project aims to transfer demonstrated, terrestrial clean energy solutions to the maritime sector. As of May, ENGIMONNIA is now fully-funded (€9.5 million) by the EU's Horizon 2020 program. The end result will see the MAN ES ammonia engine installed and demonstrated in three vessels: an oil tanker, a container ship, and a ferry.
This week Wärtsilä announced: i) some key updates in its ammonia and hydrogen-powered engine testing research to date and ii) some key upcoming milestones for its R&D program.
This week: a new breakthrough for eNRR research, ammonia production from food waste and brown-water, the huge potential of green ammonia production from hybrid solar-wind across the globe, predicted cost dynamics of electrolyser technology, and hydrogen production using selective ion membranes.