Amogy has retrofitted the NH3 Kraken, a tugboat originally constructed in 1957, with its ammonia-to-electrical power solution. Dutch C-Job Naval Architects was involved as the ship design partner.
The carbon-free, 100% ammonia-powered vessel has completed its maiden voyage on a tributary of the Hudson River, upstream from New York City. The companies claim its the world’s first vessel to be powered this way.
This demonstration is a significant step towards reducing global carbon emissions and moving the maritime industry closer to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) target of net-zero emissions by 2050. It proves both the viability of Amogy’s technology and the potential of ammonia as a carbon-free maritime fuel.
Also read: World’s first ship-to-ship ammonia transfer at anchorage
Ammonia cracking technology
Successfully sailing the NH3 Kraken is the largest and most significant application of Amogy’s technology to date. The company’s patented ammonia-to-electrical power system splits, or “cracks,” liquid ammonia into its base elements of hydrogen and nitrogen. The hydrogen is then funneled into a fuel cell, generating high-performance power with zero carbon emissions.
This technology offers a sustainable, clean energy solution, tailored for hard-to-abate sectors like maritime shipping, as well as stationary power generation applications. During this demonstration, the NH3 Kraken was fuelled with green ammonia, produced entirely with renewable energy, further reducing its carbon footprint.
Also read: C-Job partners with Meyer Group
System integration and safety measures
Leveraging its expertise in naval architecture, C-Job integrated Amogy’s ammonia-to-power system into the NH3 Kraken. The ship design company’s scope of work extended beyond system integration to include detailed planning for retrofitting activities at the shipyard, such as engine removal and construction adjustments.
Applying a risk-based design methodology, C-Job helped to develop and ensure stringent safety measures were incorporated, addressing key challenges like ammonia emission mitigation and leak prevention, while managing hazardous zones to align with safety protocols.
Also read: How risk-based design can speed up the shipping energy transition
Potential of ammonia as fuel
The global shipping industry emits close to 1 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases per year, equivalent to the emissions of a G7 country like Germany or Japan. The successful voyage of the NH3 Kraken validates the vast potential ammonia holds for transforming the shipping industry, and other sources of power generation in the future.
‘Ammonia is the world’s second most produced chemical, with around 20 million tonnes moving around the globe through 200 ports each year,’ says Seonghoon Woo, CEO and co-founder of Amogy. ‘With that track record, shifting the industry mindset to use it as a fuel is completely achievable, and can happen at an accelerated pace.’
Picture by Amogy.
