ACWA Power will develop a 150,000 tonnes-per-year renewable ammonia project in Indonesia, powered by 600 MW of wind and solar energy. The Saudi-based company also commenced construction on the first phase of its 500,000 tonnes-per-year renewable ammonia project in Uzbekistan, and has progressed development of a renewable mega-project near the Suez Canal.
For our final episode of Maritime Ammonia Insights, we take stock of the progress of marine ammonia fuel to date, and ask what comes next. Meet Fürstenberg Maritime Advisory to learn about upcoming key decision points at the IMO, communications strategies for marine ammonia, current safety gaps, and priorities for 2024 as we work towards the first demonstrations of marine ammonia fuel.
For our final episode of Maritime Ammonia Insights, we asked our resident experts Sofia and Conor Fürstenberg Stott to provide their insights on the pathway forward for marine ammonia fuel. Discussion topics included challenges for overlaying alternative fuels onto the existing bunker industry, the importance of seafarers to the transition, and why we need to move beyond talking about competition between alternative fuel candidates.
Amogy & Azane Fuel Solutions will explore the use of Amogy’s ammonia-to-power system on board Azane’s ammonia bunker vessel concept. In Norway, Amogy has announced two new initiatives: one with Green Ships and Bourbon Horizons to deploy its propulsion system on a series of new Platform Service Vessels, and another to cooperate on supply chain development with ammonia fuel producer Hy2gen. Amogy, Mitsubishi and SK Innovations have also announced a new partnership to explore the large-scale deployment of Amogy’s ammonia cracking technology in Japan & Korea.
Following a successful engine retrofit, FFI’s dual fuel vessel debuted at COP28 this month. Unable to run on or carry ammonia fuel due to restrictions from local authorities, FFI Chairman Andrew Forrest called for the world’s ports to catch-up to technological progress and update their regulations. FFI will also be a key part of the Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub (one of seven hubs awarded funding by the US DoE), and has added to its vertical integration capabilities with the opening of a new technical innovation centre in the UK.
Maersk Tankers has ordered up to ten very large ammonia carriers (VLACs) from Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries (HHI). The Korean-built vessels will have a capacity of 93,000 m3, with Maersk to make a decision to install ammonia-capable engines based on “regulatory and customer” support.
DAI Infrastruktur and Siemens Energy will collaborate on the renewable ammonia project in Egypt, with Siemens to supply electrolysers and equipment for hydrogen production. In June, DAI Infrastruktur announced that Naftomar Shipping & Trading has committed to offtake 400,000 tonnes per year of ammonia for a decade from Project Ra, meaning 85% of production capacity is now covered by offtake agreements.
Höegh expects the first pair of ammonia-powered car carriers to be delivered late next year from China Merchants Heavy Industry at the Jiangsu Shipyard in China. This month, a new LNG/ammonia tank was installed in the first of the vessels, and MAN ES engines have arrived from Korea, with installation to take place in early December. Höegh has also announced a partnership with Yara Clean Ammonia to develop a future supply of ammonia fuel for the vessels.
NYK reports the retrofitting of the LNG-fueled tugboat Sakigake has begun in Yokohama. An ammonia-fueled engine developed by IHI Power Systems, NYK, Japan Engine Corporation and Nihon Shipyard will replace the conventional system on board, with the tug due to hit the water by 2024. NYK & Chilean copper producer CODELCO have also announced they are developing an ammonia-powered Handymax bulk carrier, aiming to develop a fleet to service the cross-Pacific copper trade.
Yara Clean Ammonia, NorthSea Container Line and Yara International announce the new vessel will sail from 2026, operating between Norway and Europe. Yara Clean Ammonia will supply ammonia fuel via a storage and bunkering network that is being developed with Azane Fuel Solutions, with the first demonstration to take place in Brevik, Norway.