Introduction
—Ammonia, The New Fuel For Decarbonized Shipping
Ammonia, once a star ingredient for hair dyes and glass cleaners, is now candidate to become an eco-friendly fuel. Out from the cleaning-cupboard and into the engine room of a gigantic ship, Ammonia is a potential carbon-free fuel. Most importantly, when Ammonia is burnt, the by-products are mostly water vapor and Nitrogen.
The marine industry is the most common transportation method for global trade. Global shipping consumes approximately 300 to 330 million metric tons of fossil fuels annually. With significant use of polluting heavy fuel oil (HFO), global shipping is a huge contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and a decisive factor for sustainability. If the whole marine industry deploys Ammonia as a fuel for decarbonized shipping, this could reduce 3% of global emissions. Ammonia could reshape the future landscape of shipping and machinery operations.
However, before a seamless integration of Ammonia as a fuel, some challenges arise. It is necessary to adapt the shipping systems to the new technology, but also uphold the high standard for ship performance. In addition, it is necessary to address safety concerns and to comply with international regulatory standards. Read more to deeply explore the landscape of decarbonized shipping.
What Is Ammonia?
Ammonia is a colourless, pungent gas with the chemical formula (NH₃) – which is a compound with one Nitrogen atom bonded to three Hydrogen atoms. Ammonia is present in various commercial products. This includes cleaning products, agricultural fertilizers, synthetic textiles, and refrigeration equipment.
Ammonia Palette Of Blue, Green, Gray
—& How To Produce It
The main types of Ammonia, based on the production method and its carbon intensity, are:
Gray Ammonia: Production from natural gas or coal. The process used is the Haber-Bosch, a reaction between Hydrogen and atmospheric Nitrogen, which emits CO₂.
Blue Ammonia: Production from natural gas or coal, but then a capture and storage of CO₂ occurs to reduce the climate impact.
Green Ammonia: Production from electrolysis powered by renewable energy. Green Ammonia is considered carbon-free.
Storage Of Ammonia
The storage of Ammonia can occur under pressure, either refrigerated or at atmospheric temperature. Ships may carry semi-refrigerated or fully refrigerated combinations of pressurized Ammonia. For the pressurization and refrigeration, ships need specific equipment, such as heat exchangers, compressors, and vapor return systems.
Bunkering Of Ammonia
For the safe storage of Ammonia, it is necessary to comply with detailed bunkering regulations.
Learn about the bunkering methods of Ammonia:
Bunkering Method | Pros | Cons |
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Ship-To-Ship (STS) |
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Terminal-To-Ship (TTS) |
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Truck-To-Ship (T-TS) |
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Ammonia Portable Tank (APT) |
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Distribution Of Ammonia
The transportation of Ammonia depends on the state of Ammonia and the travel distance
Main Hazards & Risks of Ammonia
A hazard is something that has the potential to cause harm, while risk is the probability and severity of that harm to occur.
Explore the main hazards and risks related to ammonia:
1. Toxicity
- Hazard: Ammonia is highly toxic. Exposure to small amounts, such as 140 ppm for 2 hours, can cause health issues and irritation of the respiratory system. Exposure to higher amounts, such as 2500–5000 ppm for 30 minutes, can become rapidly fatal.
- Risk: The risk is elevated in the event of a leak or accident, especially in enclosed spaces like engine rooms or cargo holds. Crew members could suffer respiratory distress if they are not equipped with proper safety gear, such as gas masks or ventilators.
2. Flammability & Combustibility
- Hazard: Ammonia is flammable under certain conditions, particularly at high temperatures. Ammonia can cause a fire or explosion, simply with an ignition source and oxygen.
- Risk: The risk occurs if ammonia vapors mix with air in the engine or fuel system and come into contact with a spark or flame. This could result in an explosion or fire, putting the ship, crew, and cargo in danger.
3. Corrosiveness
- Hazard: Ammonia is corrosive to metals, including certain parts of a ship’s fuel system. Over time, exposure to Ammonia can lead to material degradation, leaks, or failure in engines and pipelines.
- Risk: The corrosion of critical systems could cause leaks, fuel inefficiency, and a mechanical breakdown. This increases the risk of a maritime accident.
4. Environmental Impact
- Hazard: While ammonia as a fuel is seen as a clean alternative in terms of CO2 emissions, if it is not combusted completely, Ammonia emissions (NOx) can contribute to air pollution and acid rain, hurting sustainability.
- Risk: Incomplete combustion or operational failures cause environmental and regulatory risks. This could lead to the destruction of the marine ecosystem and reduce air quality. In addition, this could lead to penalties or damage to a company’s reputation for non-compliance with environmental standards.
Mitigation Measures
- Emissions Control: Integration of emission control technologies, to minimize emissions.
- Leak Detection Systems: Advanced sensors to detect Ammonia leaks and activate ventilation or safety systems.
- Crew Training: Extensive safety training on the correct storage of Ammonia, with a focus on emergency response training.
- Advanced Materials: Use of corrosion-resistant materials, for storage and engine systems, to reduce the risk of system failure.
Integration Of Ammonia Fuel Into The Ship
—Marine Industry Challenge
To effectively and safely decarbonize shipping, the marine industry faces a burning question:
How to integrate Ammonia fuel into the shipping system?
The integration of Ammonia involves multiple alterations to the ship. Some of these alterations could be:
Case Studies, Real-Life Applications & Examples
Several case studies in the marine industry highlight the potential of Ammonia as a new fuel for decarbonized shipping:
- Yara Eyde is a container ship powered by Ammonia. The box ship is expected to operate in 2026, between Norway and Germany. The Yara Eyde vessel represents a significant step towards decarbonizing maritime transport.
- MAN Energy Solutions is the developer of a two-stroke Ammonia engine, for large vessels. MAN Energy Solutions tests this engine to ensure efficiency, safety, and low emissions.
- Maersk explores Ammonia as a fuel for future fleets, with a commitment to use alternative fuels by 2030. Their trials include a combination of Ammonia with traditional fuels.
- Bureau Veritas leads studies on Ammonia safety and risk assessments, and provides guidelines for safe Ammonia use in shipping.
Conclusion
- Due to its high emissions, the marine industry paves a path towards decarbonized shipping. This might incentivize other industries to follow the path of green Ammonia-powered equipment.
- ”Ammonia is toxic, explosive, and corrosive. We must use special piping, storage tanks, and trucks outfitted with materials engineered to be both leakproof and resistant to Ammonia’s corrosive properties” – says John Prousalidis, a professor of marine engineering at the National Technical University of Athens. All in all, we need to protect people, wildlife, and equipment from these risks. It is absolutely crucial to deploy Ammonia with the highest standards of safety and regulation.
- Successful integration of Ammonia as a fuel for decarbonized shipping requires contribution from multiple organizations across the shipping sector. Not only that, but also massive responsibility and caution, with safety as a number one priority, even ahead of decarbonization or profitability.
What are your thoughts about Ammonia as a green fuel? Let us know in the comment section!
