Japanese initiatives to establish Fuel Ammonia Supply Chain
2023 really is the year of change for the clean ammonia business, with momentum on display across the world. Let’s keep up the pace, keep working together, and help spread the word that clean ammonia will be a winning market.
The IMO member states have agreed to a new roadmap for the decarbonisation of the global shipping sector, including emissions reduction targets to be met in 2030 and 2040. It was also established that a well-to-wake approach will be the basis for the lifecycle analysis of maritime fuels going forward, with the uptake of near or zero-carbon alternative technologies & fuels to account for 5 - 10% of the global shipping sector by 2030.
Nine key shipping stakeholders have joined the Global Maritime Forum to issue a joint statement, committing to develop and implement “robust book and claim chain of custody systems” that will accelerate the uptake of new maritime fuels like ammonia.
The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMCZCS), RMI, Danish Shipping, and Maersk Oil Trading have released two publications outlining their new Maritime Book & Claim system, which will undergo a pilot later this year. Under the system, ships will be able to ‘book’ emissions associated with individual voyages, which consumers can then ‘claim’. The system seeks to accelerate decarbonisation by empowering green shipping services to find customers offering green premiums, regardless of geographical constraints.
Ammonia-powered vessels could be deployed on the iron ore trade routes between West Australia and East Asia from 2028, a new consortium study suggests. More than 20 vessels could be deployed on these routes by 2030, and over 360 by 2050. While ammonia fuel supply from Australia is unlikely to be a concern, validating the safety case for ammonia fuel, policy support to close the cost gap & industry-wide collaboration must all be established in time for deployment.