Page 20: of Maritime Reporter Magazine (January 2021)

The Path to Zero

Images: NCE Maritime CleanTech

A Piece of the Zero Emissions Puzzle

Ammonia Fuel Cells for Deep-Sea Shipping nterest in ammonia-powered fuel cells for the maritime A Known Commodity sector is growing, but stakeholders have been hesitant to Technical and economic knowledge developed in the Vi- commit to investments in large-scale systems. Now the king Energy pilot will be incorporated in a broader analy-

I ShipFC project is aiming to secure a place for ammonia sis of ammonia in the maritime sector and comparison with in the future of deep-sea shipping. The project will equip the other alternative fuels. “Ammonia presents certain technical offshore supply vessel Viking Energy, owned and operated challenges, but even though it is corrosive, the safety trade- by Eidesvik and on contract to energy major Equinor, with off between ammonia and hydrogen favors ammonia,” says a 2MW ammonia fuel cell, allowing it to operate for at least Cheliotis. “It is less explosive, requires less complex storage 3000 hours annually on clean fuel. Following the completion and transport solutions, and it is a well-known commodity of that phase, the project will ramp up to qualifying 20MW from industry. Based on this experience, the necessary safe- fuel cell solutions for oceangoing vessels. “The ultimate goal guards can be built in.” Experience with gas fuels will be a of the project is to demonstrate the feasibility of ammonia signi? cant building block, he adds: “We have seen that liquid fuel cells for ocean going vessels and long sea voyages,” says ammonia is similar to lique? ed gas in the handling process.

Dr Michail Cheliotis, Research Associate at the University of Industry has a high level of maturity and an excellent track

Strathclyde, lead partner in the project. “Once the ? rst phase record in handling LNG and LPG, and this experience is of the project is completed, that’s when the fun starts.” proof that it can be done safely.”

Apples and Oranges Considering all the Steps “The huge difference in scope makes ShipFC much more ShipFC will closely examine the ammonia supply chain, interesting than just a replication of Viking Energy,” says Cheliotis reports. “We will be looking at the entire life cycle

Cheliotis. “The similarities basically end with ammonia, be- of ammonia, from production to transport and bunkering. cause a 20MW power plant requires signi? cantly different One of the ShipFC partners is a major supplier of ammonia, treatment.” That said, he assures that scaling up the project and we will be working together with them to address these is seen to be well within reach, given the prior knowledge of issues.” Ammonia for fuel cells can be produced with a green both fuel cells and ammonia as an energy carrier. pro? le, Cheliotis explains, giving ammonia a positive over-

The project will consider three replicator vessel types, in- all environmental footprint: “Ammonia can easily be made cluding a bulk vessel, an offshore construction vessel, and a from renewable resources, making it one of the fuels that will container ship. Cheliotis tells that the work will involve close likely meet part of shipping’s future green energy demand.” cooperation with replicator vessel owners and a thorough ex- Strathclyde will also provide maritime safety analysis for amination of vessel requirements. onboard solutions. “Part of our work will be to propose new 20 Maritime Reporter & Engineering News • January 2021

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