U.S.-based ammonia power solutions company Amogy and Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a part of Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, have completed the feasibility study of collaboration concept designs of onboard hydrogen production and utilization with Amogy’s ammonia-cracking technology and Mitsubishi’s ammonia supply and safety system MAmmoSS.
The two parties concluded a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to undertake studies on an ammonia fuel supply system to contribute to a new target set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) of net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the maritime industry by or around 2050.
The studies were conducted to confirm the feasibility of two collaboration concept designs: a power train combining ammonia cracking and hydrogen fuel cell for ships and a hydrogen supply facility for supplying hydrogen as pilot fuel to ammonia fuel engine.
To note, according to the companies, ammonia has attracted attention as a fuel with the potential to contribute significantly to reducing GHG emissions in the maritime industry, and it is expected to be utilized in the future as a source of stable, clean energy.
To unlock this potential of ammonia, Amogy has developed an ammonia-to-electrical power system that splits, or “cracks,” liquid ammonia into its base elements of hydrogen and nitrogen, which then funnels the hydrogen into a fuel cell, generating high-performance power.
As for Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, the company said it will promote the decarbonization of the maritime industry, realize a carbon-neutral society and contribute to the reduction of environmental impacts on a global scale by continuing to develop marine ammonia handling systems, such as fuel supply systems for a wide range of ammonia fuel consumers including this collaboration for onboard hydrogen production and utilization.