- Renewable ammonia could eventually power 30% of the global maritime fleet.
- Green ammonia would have a cost similar to today’s compliant oil-based bunkers.
- Report estimates the cost of today’s conventional ammonia already comparable to VLSFO or MGO.
- Leading engine manufacturers getting ready with their first engines for commercial use.
Green ammonia could eventually power 30% of the merchant fleet by 2050, reports Splash 247.
Ammonia to power 30% fleet
A new report by Alfa Laval, Hafnia, Haldor Topsoe, Vestas and Siemens Gamesa suggests that renewable ammonia could eventually power 30% of the global maritime fleet.
Cost of Ammonia
The 59-page study forecasts that once the fuel’s logistics chain has been fully developed including the construction of 150m tonnes per year of incremental production capacity, green ammonia would have a cost similar to today’s compliant oil-based bunkers.
Highlights and estimates
The report highlights what fraction of the Earth would be needed to create the renewable resources to create enough green ammonia to power 30% of the world’s merchant fleet.
The report also estimates that the cost of today’s conventional ammonia is already comparable to VLSFO or MGO.
How transition takes place
“Ernest Hemmingway (sic) once said that people tend to go bankrupt in two ways – gradually then suddenly. Technological change and transitions tend to happen in the same way, what once seemed impossible and then unfeasible, becomes possible and then finally the standard,” the study noted.
Commercial usage of Ammonia
Ammonia developments are happening fast across the shipping industry with leading engine manufacturers getting ready with their first engines for commercial use.
Nippon and partners
Recently, Japanese line Nippon Yusen Kaisha teamed with compatriot yard Japan Marine United and ClassNK to commercialise the use of ammonia-fuelled ships.
Hyundai Mipo Dockyard
Likewise, Hyundai Mipo Dockyard in South Korea has just laid out plans to commercialise ammonia-fuelled ships by 2025.
MISC with SHI, LR & MAN
January saw Malaysia’s flagship carrier MISC along with Samsung Heavy Industries, Lloyd’s Register and MAN Energy Solutions set about building a landmark ammonia-fuelled tanker.
Eidesvik
Elsewhere, in a world-first, it was announced that Eidesvik’s 2003-built LNG-fuelled platform supply vessel Viking Energy will have a high-power fuel-cell installed to allow it to be powered by green ammonia.
Maersk
In October last year, Maersk, the world’s largest containerline, identified three fuels to focus on, namely alcohol, biogas and ammonia as it transitions towards complete decarbonisation by 2050.
To read the full 59-page report, click here.
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Source: Splash 247
