China conducts maiden voyage of world’s first ammonia-powered ship marking a major breakthrough in green maritime technology.
The “Anhui,” the world’s first demonstration vessel powered entirely by ammonia, successfully completed its maiden voyage in Hefei, located in east China’s Anhui Province. This achievement marks a significant advancement in the push for environmentally friendly shipping technologies.
Ammonia, commonly used in the chemical industry, has a high energy density and, being carbon-free, emits only water and nitrogen when fully combusted. These properties make it a promising alternative fuel for the decarbonization of global shipping.
Countries like Japan and Norway have already begun investing in ammonia-powered vessels. A 2021 International Energy Agency report predicted that by 2050, ammonia could supply around 45 percent of the shipping sector’s energy needs in a net-zero emissions scenario. However, challenges like ignition issues and combustion instability remain.
The “Anhui” was developed by the Institute of Energy of the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center in partnership with Shenzhen Haixu New Energy Co., Ltd. The vessel features a 200kW high-speed ammonia-fueled internal combustion generator, two 100kW propulsion motors, and a twin-screw propulsion system. It can carry up to 50 tonnes at a speed of 10 knots.
Researcher Wu Dianwu shared that the team overcame critical hurdles, including stable plasma ignition of ammonia, sustained combustion, catalytic cracking of ammonia to hydrogen, and efficient control of mixed hydrogen-ammonia combustion in internal combustion engines. The team also developed pure ammonia burners and related cracking devices.
The maiden voyage successfully demonstrated stable ammonia combustion with near-zero carbon emissions and effective control of nitrogen oxides. This proves the broader potential of ammonia-hydrogen fuels for marine transport, industrial boilers, and fuel cells, Wu explained.
Wang Junli, Secretary-General of the Chinese Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, stated that the successful voyage is a milestone in developing a clean and low-carbon energy system for water transport. If pure ammonia engines can scale up to megawatt levels, their deployment will expand significantly and play a key role in China’s dual carbon goals.
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