GSS EU Science Funding Gateway

Deep sea shipping and ship operations with very high power demand require the storage of large amounts of energy carriers aboard in order to ensure the required autonomy and the ability to navigate safely in adverse and extreme conditions.

The use of low energy density green fuels will in these operational environments lead to a significant loss of cargo volumes or useable space which directly impacts the economic parameters of the vessels and consequently leads to reluctance by ship owners to invest in clean ships. Specifically, ammonia is a zero carbon fuel, with a higher volumetric energy density than liquid hydrogen and with comparatively high liquefaction temperatures and pressures. Due to this, and its combustion characteristics, green ammonia has been widely advocated as a potential sustainable alternative marine fuel. A practical and easy use of ammonia may be a game changer in making shipping climate neutral, in particular if it can be used in the existing fleet through retrofitting.

Projects should demonstrate the engine operating at its rated power in a laboratory or on board of an actual vessel, thus going beyond the state of the art which is currently demonstrating ammonia combustion in smaller test engines, or rapid compression machines.

Risks should be assessed and the engine should also comply with all relevant safety rules and regulations as stipulated by classification societies and flag states.