2025 is a critical year for the adoption of ammonia fuel in shipping. Here, we preview important upcoming meetings of the International Maritime Organization, what regulatory gaps are being filled by this work, potential candidates for decarbonization measures, and progress in engine development. All this sets the scene for incredible progress to be made in the coming years.
The Moroccan government has extended land allocation offers and streamlined approvals processes to the developers of four new ammonia projects in the country’s south.
In 2025, the pieces are rapidly assembling to enable and accelerate imports of ammonia energy to Japan. This year, government agency METI is due to announce two lots of key funding, including contracts for difference subsidies and development of import infrastructure. Power generation technologies will be commercialised within the next few years, and more maritime players are joining the push to deploy ammonia fuel in Japanese ships.
Korea Southern Power will co-fire ammonia at Unit 1 of the KOSPO-owned Samcheok Bitdream Headquarters power plant, likely sourcing the ammonia fuel from Pilot Energy’s Mid West Clean Energy Project in Australia.
UAE-Moroccan developer Dahamco is planning a $25 billion, multi-million ton per year renewable ammonia project at the Port of Dhakla on Morocco’s Atlantic coast. The first phase will feature an investment of $4 billion and produce nearly one million tons of ammonia per year.
In our November episode of Project Features, we explored the MadoquaPower2X renewable ammonia project in Sines, southern Portugal. 300,000 tons per year of RFNBO-compliant ammonia will be produced for export to Rotterdam and Duisburg from 2028, focused on marine fuel and fertilizer markets in Europe.
The US Department of Energy has concluded negotiations with two more Hydrogen Hub consortia, committing funding to the Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub (up to $1.2 billion) and the Midwest Hydrogen Hub (up to $1 billion).
To open the AEA’s 2024 Annual Conference in New Orleans, H2Global Managing Director Timo Bollerhey presented updates from the “green market maker”. To meet global climate targets, we need to accelerate market creation and maturation, and push past key tipping points. H2Global does this by bridging the green premium gap between sellers and buyers and facilitating transactions for clean commodities. A successful first ammonia auction was concluded in 2024, informing plans for a second, larger, truly global auction round that will be launched in the near future.
The AEA and like minded organizations delivered two urgent calls to action at COP29. These documents outline practical actions needed from governments in the next one-to-two years to stimulate demand for clean hydrogen and ammonia. Now through 2025 and 2026, the AEA, its coalition partners, and all our industry members need to channel these messages into national and local policies to scale demand for clean molecules.
More than 50 leaders across the shipping value chain joined a Call to Action to accelerate the adoption of zero-emission fuels. Amongst the signatories of the Call to Action was Fortescue, which now has partnerships with Höegh Autoliners and COSCO Shipping to accelerate the deployment of ammonia-powered vessels.