NYK Line, IHI Power Systems and Nihon Shipyard join forces for the commercialization of vessels equipped with a domestically produced ammonia- fueled engine.
As part of the Green Innovation Fund, the demonstration project, which is scheduled to begin in December, aims to use ammonia as fuel to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during voyages and thus introduce an ammonia-fueled vessel for the good of society earlier than 2030.
Under the agreement, the three companies will eventually work toward the goal of achieving zero emissions from ships in the future.
The Companies and ClassNK’s greatest goals are to realize the development of an ammonia-fueled vessel that is internationally competitive ahead of other countries, and to lead the development of safety guidelines and laws and regulations related to ammonia-fueled vessels.
….NYK Line explains.
In order to achieve these goals, marine engine manufacturers, shipyards, class societies, and shipping companies in Japan will work together to consistently cooperate from the research and development stage to engine development, shipbuilding, and commercialization.
To remind, reducing GHG emissions is also an urgent issue in the shipping industry, and research and development is being conducted to convert marine fuel from conventional heavy fuel oil to liquefied natural gas (LNG) and to popularize next-generation zero-emission fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia.
Ammonia does not emit carbon dioxide (CO2) even when burned, so it is expected to be a next-generation fuel that contributes to global warming countermeasures. Furthermore, it is said that by utilizing CO2-free hydrogen for hydrogen, which is the raw material for ammonia, it is possible to achieve zero emissions in consideration of the fuel life cycle.
Under this background, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry started the Green Innovation Fund project toward carbon neutrality by 2050, and NEDO has now approved the Companies’ development of vessels equipped with a domestically produced ammonia-fueled engine as part of the Green Innovation Fund project.
Concluding, NEDO has approved these demonstration projects:
- the development and operation of an ammonia-fueled tugboat
- the development and operation of an ammonia-fueled ammonia gas carrier
