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New Energy World
New Energy World embraces the whole energy industry as it connects and converges to address the decarbonisation challenge. It covers progress being made across the industry, from the dynamics under way to reduce emissions in oil and gas, through improvements to the efficiency of energy conversion and use, to cutting-edge initiatives in renewable and low carbon technologies.
Are ammonia-fuelled ships a viable alternative option for greener maritime operations?
18/9/2024
10 min read
Feature
Given the significant impact of maritime operations on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, a range of alternative fuel options are being considered, including ammonia-fuelled ships. Toby Clark considers the pros and cons of using ammonia as fuel for shipping operations, which nevertheless carries recognised safety risks.
Around 80–90% of the world’s goods is transported by ship, and shipping accounts for nearly 3% of global GHG emissions. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) estimates that in 2022 global shipping generated 858mn t/y of CO2 emissions, compared with 739mn t/y of CO2 from air transport.
In 2023 the International Maritime Organization (IMO) committed to reducing the carbon intensity of international shipping by at least 40% by 2030, with zero or near-zero GHG emission technologies representing at least 5% of the energy used. The long-term goal is for the global shipping sector to become carbon-neutral by 2050. It’s a big ambition.
A surprising contender has turned up as a way of reducing carbon emissions from shipping: using ammonia as a fuel. Ammonia (NH3) is currently a widely-used industrial chemical, where most of the 235mn t/y manufactured goes to making fertiliser, despite significant health hazards.