Japanese firms look to develop ammonia fuel business

Japanese shipping firm NYK Line, shipbuilder Japan Marine United and classification society Nippon Kaiji Kyokai are looking to develop an ammonia fuel business, helping to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from marine transportation.

The firms have signed a joint research and development agreement to build an ammonia-powered ammonia gas carrier and an ammonia floating storage and regasification barge (A-FSRB) for commercial use. The A-FSRB would be the world's first barge equipped with a floating storage and regasification facility exclusively for ammonia, NYK Line said.

The study will focus on developing a liquefied ammonia gas carrier, using ammonia as the main bunker fuel. The potential new vessel would ensure zero emissions, by utilising CO2-free hydrogen as a raw material for ammonia.

The International Maritime Organisation aims to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 40pc by 2030 and by 70pc by 2050 compared with 2008 levels. It is scheduled to finalise its GHG strategy in 2023.

The Japanese firms also plan methods for the mass transportation and stable supply of ammonia, expecting demand growth from Japanese power firms to co-use the fuel at coal-fired power plants.

The Japanese government is promoting the use of ammonia as a power generation fuel, saying a 10-20pc mix at a coal-fired power plant would not require large-scale refurbishment of the facility. Japan's Toyota Energy Solutions developed a 295KW ammonia-fired gas turbine unit in April last year.

By Motoko Hasegawa