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  • Ammonia as an Alternative Fuel

In response to increasing environmental regulations, various technical measures such as ship speed reduction, hull form improvment and wind propulsion are being implemented, as well as operational measures such as route optimisation and speed optimisation to reduce fuel consumption, but these are not enough to achieve complete decarbonisation. In the end, the transition to carbon-free fuels is essential, and as environmental regulations such as the IMO and EU become more stringent, the transition to carbon-free fuels will accelerate. Ammonia is a chemical compound made up of nitrogen and hydrogen, and contains no carbon, making it a prominent carbon-free fuel. The key properties of ammonia as a marine fuel are summarised below.

 

Volume

 Liquid ammonia has a low volumetric energy density, requiring a tank approximately 4.1 times the   size of diesel fuel.

Flammability

 The risk of fire is relatively low due to its narrow flammability range and difficult conditions for   ignition. Due to these characteristics, ammonia engines require pilot fuel.

Corrosive

 Ammonia is corrosive to some materials such as copper, copper alloys, and zinc, so care must be   taken when selecting materials.

Toxic

 Ammonia is a toxic substance with a colourless, strong odour at room temperature and pressure,   and because it is lighter than air, it tends to collect in high places such as ceilings.

 

  • Production of Ammonia

Ammonia can be divided into three types: grey ammonia, produced by feeding hydrogen produced through natural gas reforming into the Haber-Bosch process; blue ammonia, produced by treating the carbon dioxide generated in the production of grey ammonia with carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS); and green ammonia, which uses green hydrogen produced through water electrolysis using renewable energy. Depending on how the ammonia is produced, the lifecycle CO2 emissions of the fuel can be very different. As ammonia is widely used in various industries as a hydrogen carrier, a number of blue/green hydrogen production projects are being planned.

 

  • Ammonia Infrastructure and Bunkering

Approximately 180 million tonnes of grey ammonia are produced and transported every year, with 38 ammonia export terminals and 88 import terminals operating globally. There are already well established import/export ports and infrastructure, and the number of ammonia bunkering ports is expected to grow with the increase in green ammonia production and export projects. Maersk and Keppel Offshore & Marine have signed an MOU for a joint feasibility study to establish a green ammonia bunkering hub in Singapore ('21.3) and are conducting a feasibility study on developing a cost-effective green ammonia supply chain and developing green ammonia supply chain infrastructure.

Ammonia Outlook Report_Setting Course for a Zero-Carbon Marine Fuel
Ammonia Outlook Report_Setting Course for a Zero-Carbon Marine Fuel
To provide useful information for shipping companies, KR jointly published a technical document on ammonia, one of the favored carbon-free fuels, with Seoul National University and the Korea Institute of Energy Research. This technical document analyzes the technical characteristics, risk, mass production possibility, bunkering infrastructure, etc., of ammonia as a marine fuel. The report also performs a relative comparison with other alternative fuels through various information and assumptions that can be predicted in the current situation. Finally, we summarize the contents of the relevant ammonia technical document and introduce it to readers.
2023.02.06
Forecasting the Alternative Marine Fuel_Ammonia
Forecasting the Alternative Marine Fuel_Ammonia
At the 72nd meeting of the Marine Environmental Protection Committee (MEPC), a draft of the initial strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions for IMO vessels was adopted. It is predicted that achieving the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions will be difficult when using fossil fuels, and that changes in ship fuel will be inevitable in the long term as the long-term action candidates for the initial strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions include "development and pursuit of supply of carbon-free or de-fossil fuels." Biofuels, hydrogen, methanol and ammonia are mentioned as alternative fuels, especially ammonia, which have relatively superior storage characteristics compared to hydrogen, and are considered carbon neutral fuels that are more likely to be realized due to their low technical difficulty. herefore, please refer to the technical document on the characteristics and the current status of ammonia as ship fuel.
2019.11.26
Drawing a Carbon-Neutral Future: Hanwha Power Systems
Drawing a Carbon-Neutral Future: Hanwha Power Systems' Ammonia Gas Turbine
The mid-term GHG reduction measures agreed upon at the 83rd MEPC session mark a major turning point in accelerating the decarbonization of international shipping. The position of LNG, once considered a relatively eco-friendly fuel, is weakening, while demand for alternative fuels such as bio-fuels, methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen is expected to increase rapidly and gradually replace traditional fossil fuels. As a result, investments in stable production and supply of alternative fuels, securing price competitiveness, and developing related equipment and systems will be accelerated. Among these alternative fuels, ammonia stands out as a fuel with significant advantages in terms of production, transport, storage, and infrastructure. While its inherent toxicity and corrosiveness pose safety challenges, if these can be overcome through technological development and thorough validation, ammonia, as a carbon-free fuel, could achieve complete decarbonization.
2025.07.29
Interview with Ammonia Engine Expert
Interview with Ammonia Engine Expert
There are several fuels being considered for greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction, including biofuels, LNG, methanol, ammonia, and hydrogen. In the transition to carbon-neutral fuel for shipping, the share of each fuel may vary depending on the ship owner or type of vessel. However, LNG is expected to continue being used, and biofuels will likely serve as transitional fuels. That said, the limited production of biofuels may restrict the amount available for maritime use, leading to the potential use of various e-fuels (e-LNG, e-Methanol, e-Diesel) based on green hydrogen.
2024.12.16
The Prospect of Ammonia-fueled Ships and Challenges for Commercialization
The Prospect of Ammonia-fueled Ships and Challenges for Commercialization
When I first encountered ammonia as a zero-carbon fuel in 2018, I had doubts about its feasibility for technical reasons due to its poor combustion characteristics, and for safety reasons due to its toxicity. I wasn't sure that those challenges could be overcome. However, the limited options for achieving IMO's carbon reduction targets have since prompted the push for commercialization of ammonia-fueled ships. Multiple engine manufacturers are nearing completion of the development of ammonia fuel engines and their commercialization is expected in 2025. The IMO is rapidly progressing the development of ship safety provisions and is planning to implement an interim guideline in 2025. Ship owners should consider using ammonia as a fuel, but uncertainties such as the economics and safety of ammonia fuel, availability of fuel supply, and related regulations add to the complexity of ship owners' decision making. However, looking at recent trends and the predictions of the international
2024.01.10
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