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Powerful stakeholders worldwide are investing in ammonia maritime fuel cell technology; modern vessels indeed need to be able to support fleet decarbonization objectives in order to meet the IMO’s reduction target for 2050. Shipping companies seek climate-friendlier alternatives to petroleum that can propel their vessels for days or weeks at sea and still leave room on board for cargo.
Ammonia is a promising zero-carbon fuel and is going to play a pivotal role in decarbonizing the global maritime industry: no carbon dioxide when burned, it’s abundant and common and it can be made using renewable electricity, water, and air; it doesn’t have to be stored in high-pressure tanks. But no vessels of any size today are equipped to use the fuel.
In this respect the SHIPFC project will install the world’s first high-power ammonia fuel cell on a vessel, with the ultimate goal of demonstrating the feasibility of ammonia fuel cells for ocean going vessels and long sea voyages: effectively opening up a completely new option for zero-emission shipping and creating the starting point to build up the market for zero-carbon fuels.
But this opportunity is not without challenges that can make the stakeholders hesitant to commit to investments in large-scale systems: manufacturers and engineers must face key technical hurdles and safety issues in the design of ammonia engines and fuel cells; port operators and fuel suppliers must provide bunkering infrastructure; energy companies will need to invest in solar, wind and other renewable-energy capacities to produce enough green ammonia.
The goal of the digital workshop is to set up a discussion about both the opportunities and issues, involving subjects at the forefront of this innovative path: SHIPOWNERS, SHIPBUILDERS, SUPPLIERS, REGISTERS, PORTS, ASSOCIATIONS AND POLICY MAKERS.
The Ship FC project has received funding from Clean Hydrogen Partnership (previously Fuel Cells and Hydrogen 2 Joint Undertaking) under grant agreement No 875156. This Joint Undertaking receives support from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program and from Hydrogen Europe.