Alternative Fuels

Wärtsilä: Successful tests pave the way for ammonia as a future marine fuel

Ammonia can be produced with green energy and it contains no carbon so it doesn’t release carbon dioxide when it burns or when it is being produced, it said.

Published

6 years ago

July 6, 2020

Admin

Maritime technology group Wärtsilä on Thursday (2 July) published an article outlining the company’s findings in its numerous projects involving ammonia as a bunker fuel as well as its future plans in the field; the article was written by David J. Cord:

The Wärtsilä combustion research unit is humming along nicely. Wärtsilä engines generate electricity and power ships all over the world, but this experiment is special because it involves ammonia.

“We get excited when it works according to our expectations,” says Kaj Portin, General Manager, Fuel & Operational Flexibility, Wärtsilä Marine.

The Wärtsilä scientists have good reason to be excited. Ammonia can be created with green energy and it contains no carbon so it doesn’t release carbon dioxide when it burns. It can be produced and used with no carbon emissions whatsoever: a huge advantage in our quest for a cleaner and sustainable world.

Tried but not tested

The idea of using ammonia as fuel is nothing new, but it has only been used in limited cases because there are major challenges to using it.

“It doesn’t ignite very well and it burns slowly,” Portin explains. “You have to be careful with the temperatures and pressures to get it to work.”

There are two methods to use ammonia: see how much ammonia can be fed into a standard engine with small modifications or design an engine that is optimised to operate with ammonia.

“If we modify the fuel, we can use it in our current engines,” Portin says. “For instance, maybe we can mix ammonia with LNG or diesel to get it to ignite.”

Wärtsilä scientists will continue tests using dual-fuel and spark-ignited gas engines. In 2022, they will begin working with ship owners on field tests.

Are fuel cells the way to go?

In addition to using ammonia in regular combustion engines, there is also another option: fuel cells. A fuel cell is an electrochemical cell that converts the chemical energy of a fuel and an oxidising agent into electricity. Using hydrogen in a fuel cell is a common idea, but ammonia can also be used in one, which is what is happening on a Norwegian ship.

Eidesvik Offshore’s Viking Energy supply ship is the focus of a major clean energy project by the EU initiative ShipFC and a consortium of companies including Wärtsilä.

“Our role in the project is the development and delivery of the electronic and control equipment, as well as the systems required to store and distribute ammonia on board. We will also do integration and design work for the new energy system,” says Ingve Sørfonn, Manager Technology of Marine Electrical Systems at Wärtsilä.

Yara, the world’s biggest producer of ammonia, will produce green ammonia for the ship – by doing so with hydropower. When the Viking Energy launches, it will be the world’s first zero-emissions supply vessel using green ammonia as fuel.

Tapping into existing infrastructure

Fuel cells are an intriguing possibility, but the downside is that you need entirely new power plants. A better option would be to use clean fuel in existing machinery, which is why Wärtsilä scientists want “future-proof” engines which can use the clean fuels of the future. It would also be better to use existing systems, which is another benefit of ammonia.

“One major advantage of ammonia is that the infrastructure to use it already exists,” explains Cato Esperø, Sales Director, Wärtsilä Norway. “It is already shipped around the world in huge quantities.”

About 175 million tonnes of ammonia is currently produced annually. Its main use is in fertiliser, but you probably have ammonia in your house because it is a common agent in cleaning products. We already have the know-how to use ammonia, and the challenge is to apply this knowledge in innovative ways.

The next big thing?

An ambitious idea to power ships with ammonia is the Zero Emission Energy Distribution at Sea (ZEEDS) project. The ZEEDS idea is to build offshore hubs near busy shipping lanes which will produce, store and distribute clean fuel to vessels. Green ammonia will be produced with offshore wind parks while ships refuel at nearby stations. Partners in the project include Aker Solutions, Equinor, DFDS, Grieg Star, Kværner and Wärtsilä.

It is no wonder why ammonia is such a hot topic currently. The British Royal Society has drawn attention to it in a policy briefing and maritime heavyweights such as Samsung Heavy Industries, MAN Energy Solutions, Lloyd’s Register and MISC Berhad have launched an ammonia research project.

Wärtsilä is involved in a number of other ammonia-related projects. Carnival is studying the use of ammonia on their huge fleet of cruise ships. Repsol wants clean energy produced by ammonia on their offshore rigs.

“We are really excited about the opportunity ammonia as a fuel provides,” Esperø says. “In the near future engines will be running with zero carbon emissions. It will happen fast, we are doing something good for the future, and this will be great news for the whole world.”

Photo credit and source: Wärtsilä
Published: 6 July, 2020

Alternative Fuels

Olam Agri, Vitol Bunkers wrap up co-processed VLSFO bio-bunkering operation in Singapore

“MV Scion Mathilda” was supplied with 246.5 mt of co-processed VLSFO at the Port of Singapore, comprising 212 mt of conventional VLSFO and 34.5 mt of co-processed CNSL VLSFO.

Published

4 hours ago

August 21, 2026

Admin

Olam Agri, Vitol Bunkers wrap up co-processed VLSFO bio-bunkering operation in Singapore

Agri-business Olam Agri on Thursday (20 August) said it successfully completed Singapore’s first bio-bunkering operation with Vitol Bunkers, using Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) co-processed with Cashew Nutshell Liquid (CNSL), showcasing a waste-to-energy approach.

MV Scion Mathilda was supplied with 246.5 metric tonnes (mt) of co-processed VLSFO at the Port of Singapore, comprising 212 mt of conventional VLSFO and 34.5 mt of co-processed CNSL VLSFO. The product was supplied by Vitol Bunkers and procured by Olam Agri’s ocean freight business.

The fuel was subsequently consumed during a voyage from Caofeidian (China) to Rotterdam (Netherlands), followed by a ballast leg from Rotterdam to Barcarena (Brazil).

Total fuel consumption across the voyage comprised 1,354 mt of VLSFO, 101 mt of MGO and 34.1 mt of co-processed VLSFO. The vessel completed the voyage without any operational remarks, confirming the product’s performance in real-world conditions.

The operation marks a significant step forward in the search for practical, scalable alternatives to conventional marine fuels, and demonstrates that meaningful greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions can be achieved without any change to vessel operations.

Martin Fynbo, Head of Bunkers at Olam Agri’s ocean freight business, said: “The successful deployment of this product, achieving verified greenhouse gas mitigation alongside ensuring operational integrity, serves as a definitive proof of concept. This milestone provides validation to a traditionally risk-averse sector, demonstrating that a previously disregarded bio-product solution can both be operationally viable and sustainable.”

Sherman Yeo, Trading Manager, Vitol Bunkers, said: “This operation proves that co-processed VLSFO can be delivered and consumed at sea without any compromise to vessel performance or operational routine. The mass balance solution we have developed opens up a genuinely new avenue for GHG reduction in marine fuels.”

The co-processed VLSFO carries a GHG intensity of 2.02 gCO2eq/MJ, delivering savings of at least 120 MT CO2eq compared with conventional VLSFO on an equivalent basis. This outcome was achieved with no additional onboard handling or fuel treatment requirements.

Vitol’s co-processing and mass balancing methodology resolves a longstanding challenge in the use of CNSL as a marine biofuel. Direct blending of CNSL has historically been dismissed by the industry due to material compatibility and handling issues. By co-processing CNSL within the refinery stream, Vitol has opened a commercially viable pathway for CNSL to contribute to GHG reduction in shipping.

The co-processed VLSFO used in this operation conforms to RMG380 VLSFO grade and has the same chemical composition and quality as conventional fuel, eliminating the need for additional permissions or special clauses in charter party agreements.

“CNSL, derived as a by-product of cashew processing, represents an underutilised feedstock with genuine potential as a scalable marine biofuel component,” Olam Agri added.

“This trial demonstrates that with the right processing approach, it can be integrated into existing supply chains without disruption.”

Photo credit: Vitol
Published: 21 August, 2026

Alternative Fuels

China: CIMC Enric and Sinopec to team up on LNG, methanol bunker fuels in new deal

Under the new agreement, the companies will deepen cooperation across the LNG value chain and develop bunkering solutions including truck-to-ship bunkering services.

Published

4 hours ago

August 21, 2026

Admin

China: CIMC Enric and Sinopec to team up on LNG, methanol bunker fuels in new deal

Clean energy equipment and services provider CIMC Enric on Monday (17 August) said it has signed a strategic cooperation agreement with Sinopec Fuel Oil Sales Co Ltd, covering LNG, green methanol, shipbuilding and new energy for marine applications.

Under the new agreement, the companies will deepen cooperation across the LNG value chain and develop bunkering solutions including truck-to-ship bunkering services. They also plan to expand into emerging marine fuels and energy solutions, including green methanol and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).

The partnership will focus on five areas: energy-resource cooperation, shipbuilding, marine-fuel bunkering, vehicle-related services and integrated services.

The agreement was signed in Shenzhen on 14 August by Yang Xiaohu, executive director and president of CIMC Enric, and Xu Tao, deputy general manager and Party committee member of Sinopec Fuel Oil.

The cooperation will span commercial implementation, industry development and technology innovation.

The partnership comes as the shipping industry accelerates its transition towards lower-carbon fuels amid tightening International Maritime Organization emissions regulations and China’s carbon-reduction goals.

CIMC Enric specialises in equipment for the clean-energy sector, while Sinopec Fuel Oil leverages the resource and supply network of China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec). Both said their complementary capabilities provide a basis for moving beyond a conventional equipment-supply relationship towards broader cooperation integrating equipment, fuels, applications and technology.

The two companies began working together in October 2022, initially focusing on LNG and CNG storage and transportation equipment. Their cooperation has since expanded into marine equipment, green methanol bunkering, storage and transportation equipment, and external gas-source procurement.

The companies said they will establish a regular cooperation mechanism and develop detailed projects to accelerate implementation. The partnership is intended to strengthen collaboration between energy-equipment and energy-supply companies and support the maritime industry’s transition towards lower-carbon fuels.

Photo credit: CIMC Enric
Published: 21 August, 2026

Ammonia

Azane signs ammonia bunkering deal with Equinor, first deliveries due in H2 2026

Both signed a framework agreement for the supply of ammonia and the execution of truck-to-ship ammonia bunkering operations for ammonia-fuelled vessels.

Published

4 hours ago

August 21, 2026

Admin

Azane signs ammonia bunkering deal with Equinor, first deliveries due in H2 2026

Azane Fuel Solutions (Azane) on Thursday (20 August) said it has signed a framework agreement with Equinor Energy AS for the supply of ammonia and the execution of truck-to-ship ammonia bunkering operations for ammonia-fuelled vessels.

The first deliveries will commence during the second half of 2026. The agreement establishes a framework for future ammonia fuel deliveries and bunkering operations supporting the maritime industry’s transition towards lower-emission solutions.

“This agreement marks an important milestone for Azane and demonstrates growing confidence in ammonia as a marine fuel,” said Steinar Kostøl, CEO of Azane.

“Truck-to-ship bunkering offers a practical and flexible solution for the early adoption of ammonia-fuelled vessels while the broader ammonia fuel ecosystem continues to develop.”

The agreement covers truck-to-ship ammonia bunkering operations, where ammonia is transported to the quayside and transferred directly to the receiving vessel.

The contract supports Azane’s strategy of enabling near-term deployment of ammonia as a marine fuel while continuing to develop dedicated ammonia infrastructure for future market growth.

Photo credit: Azane Fuel Solutions
Published: 21 August, 2026