The first-ever guidelines for use of anhydrous ammonia cargo as fuel on gas carriers have been finalized by the IMO’s Sub-Committee on Carriage of Cargoes and Containers. The guidelines will add supplementary text to the existing IGC Code, adding in specific design and operational requirements for ammonia-fueled vessels.
Foshan Xianhu Laboratory and its collaborators have unveiled a new ammonia-fueled aluminium rod furnace, replacing a conventional, gas-powered multi-bar furnace in the production process.
The Hydrogen Council has released its first Global Hydrogen Compass report, a state-of-play look at the industry. Ammonia is currently the largest offtake sector for clean hydrogen, accounting for 43% of the 3.6 million tons per year of binding offtake secured to date. Policy and regulatory clarity will be key to locking in further offtake, and developing the impressive global project pipeline.
At the recent Japan-India Summit, the governments committed to cooperation on R&D, development of policy, regulations, market mechanisms, infrastructure, and the establishment of a hydrogen/ammonia trade corridor between India and Japan.
GMF’s new report finds that both ammonia and methanol fuels are now “ready” for commercial deployment, but a concerted push is required to enable scale-up beyond 2030. The report highlights the increased familiarity (and confidence) from key maritime stakeholders with ammonia fuel, and a recommendation to independently verify emissions from the first ammonia-fueled vessels.
In our recent episode of Project Features, we explored the outcomes from a recent ammonia bunkering demonstration at the Port of Rotterdam. With twelve ammonia transfer and bunkering demonstrations occurring in nine global locations since 2024, where does the Port Readiness Level for ammonia bunkering stand in Rotterdam and elsewhere, what are the key technical learnings, and what gaps remain?
The European Commission has unveiled the Hydrogen and Gas Market Directive which in addition to existing regulations on renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO) set out in the Renewable Energy Directive, completes the policy framework for the sector on the European continent.
Ammonia cracking tech provider Ammonigy and leading German brick manufacturer Juwö Poroton led the project, successfully demonstrating a pilot-sized brick kiln that runs on cracked ammonia fuel gas. The cracked ammonia-fired bricks were virtually “indistinguishable from bricks fired with natural gas”.
Following the passage of new legislation in the USA, the timeline has been set for hydrogen and ammonia producers to benefit from 45V tax credits. Construction on renewable hydrogen projects must begin by January 1, 2028, providing a short window of opportunity, particularly for the regional Hydrogen Hubs.
The consensus that has emerged from across the ammonia energy industry carries a very simple message for the IMO: adopt.