INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
The world's first pure ammonia-powered demonstration vessel, the "Anhui," has completed its maiden voyage in Hefei, east China's Anhui
Province, marking a major step forward for green shipping.Ammonia, a key feedstock in the chemical industry, has high energy density and
produces only water and nitrogen when fully combusted, due to its carbon-free nature
This makes it a highly promising fuel for decarbonizing the shipping industry.In recent years, several shipping companies in countries such
as Japan and Norway have been investing in the development of ammonia-powered vessels
A report by the International Energy Agency, published in 2021, estimated that by 2050, ammonia could account for around 45 percent of
global energy demand for shipping in a net-zero emissions scenario
However, ammonia fuel also faces challenges such as ignition difficulties and unstable combustion.The ammonia-powered "Anhui" was jointly
developed by the Institute of Energy of the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center and its subsidiary, Shenzhen Haixu New Energy Co.,
It is equipped with a 200-kilowatt high-speed gas internal combustion generator, two 100-kilowatt propulsion motors and a twin-screw
It has a full load capacity of 50 tonnes and a rated speed of 10 knots.According to Wu Dianwu from the institute, the research team overcame
several key technological challenges
These included pure ammonia fuel plasma ignition, sustained combustion, efficient catalytic cracking of ammonia gas to produce hydrogen, and
the efficient combustion and control of hydrogen-ammonia mixed gas in internal combustion engines
The team also developed a pure ammonia fuel burner and various ammonia gas catalytic cracking devices.The maiden voyage achieved stable
combustion of pure ammonia fuel, nearly zero carbon dioxide emissions, and effective control of nitrogen oxides
This confirms the potential for ammonia-hydrogen fuels to be widely used in marine and land transport, as well as in industrial boilers and
fuel cells, Wu noted.Wang Junli, secretary-general of the Chinese Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, said the vessel's
successful voyage marked a major milestone in creating a clean, low-carbon energy system for water transport
If pure ammonia engines reach the megawatt level, their applications will expand significantly, playing an important role in achieving
China's dual carbon goals.
