Explore the critical topic of engine room safety, and what design considerations would be needed on a future, ammonia-fueled vessel. What learnings can we apply from running prototype engines? What lessons can be learned from current ammonia-handling industries like refrigeration? And what training will be needed to build confidence in seafarers?
The International Energy Agency has proposed a new taxonomy for hydrogen definitions based on emissions intensity, moving away from color labels. In Towards hydrogen definitions based on their emissions intensity, the IEA proposes a set of nine distinct, technology-neutral emissions intensity bands. The report also advocates for an international approach to ensure interoperability between certification schemes, and suggests that a mutual recognition approach based on the IPHE’s emissions methodology is the best way forward.
The UK government has released a consultation paper outlining its current position on several certification dilemmas, as it works towards launching a fully functioning low-carbon hydrogen certification scheme before 2025. The paper grapples with challenging design choices including chain of custody and scheme participation while emphasising the importance of international collaboration and interoperability.
Argus Media is the latest organisation to launch a pricing service for low-carbon ammonia, following on from CRU and S&P Global Commodity Insights. The services build on existing methodologies, assumptions and trade routes for fossil-based ammonia.
IRENA and RMI’s new report Creating a global hydrogen market: Certification to enable trade concludes that there are significant gaps and conflicts in current certification schemes. Inconsistent labelling thresholds, accounting boundaries, and production pathways are the main areas of concern. The report offers several recommendations to support the harmonisation of certification frameworks, warning that schemes cannot continue to develop in a “patchwork” manner.
The second phase of the NoGAPS project is well underway. Led by the Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, a detailed plan for the design, operation and business case for the future MS NoGAPS vessel will be developed. Construction and delivery is expected in 2024-25. Also in Scandinavia, Viridis Bulk Carriers has been awarded AiP from Bureau Veritas for its ammonia-fueled, short-sea, bulk carrier design.
Technology solutions to manage emissions from ammonia-powered internal combustion engines will be commercially available on a similar timeline to the engines themselves, a new report from the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center concludes. Although the authors are confident ammonia combustion emissions (including the potent greenhouse molecule N2O) will be successfully minimised, key gaps include a lack of industry-wide emissions thresholds and a poor understanding of the well-to-tank emissions of ammonia fuel, particularly CCS-based ammonia.
In our latest episode of Maritime Ammonia Insights, we explored the findings of a new, landmark environmental study: Ammonia at Sea. Speakers representing the report’s co-authors joined us to discuss the results, what further work is required and how the report is being incorporated into policy discussions at the IMO.
Hear more from the authors of the Ammonia at Sea report: an analysis of everything currently known about ammonia’s behaviour in the aquatic environment, plus the potential impacts of the use of ammonia as a marine fuel.
Electrolysis-based ammonia production peaked worldwide around 1970, before the economies of scale and cheap gas feedstock led to its decline. With decarbonization and climate-neutral industrial processes now a critical priority, electrolysis-based ammonia production has re-emerged as a long-term solution. From a base of 10,000 tonnes per year worldwide production in 2020, as much as 100 million tonnes per year of electrolysis-based ammonia could be produced by the end of this decade, driven by a dramatic roll-out of renewable energy generation and installed electrolyzer capacity.