Green innovation is both the pain and profit point for the maritime industry and whoever has the first-mover advantage sails ahead of competitors. Capitalizing on ammonia-to-power solutions, Amogy, which provides technology that unlocks ammonia’s potential as a clean energy source, aims to accelerate the global journey to net zero.
In an interview with Maritime Fairtrade, Seonghoon Woo, chairman, CEO and co-founder, Amogy, said: “When we integrated our power system into retrofits or new builds, this first-hand knowledge is crucial as we pivot toward commercialization, equipping us with insights into our customers’ pain points to better support their needs.”
Woo added that ammonia is the world’s second most produced chemical, with around 20 million tons moving around the globe through 200 ports each year. The shift of industry mindset to use ammonia as a fuel is completely achievable, he emphasized, and this change could happen at an accelerated pace.
With a successful demonstration of the proprietary ammonia-to-power technology, Woo believed the opportunity to decarbonize the maritime industry is within reach.
Seonghoon Woo, chairman, CEO and co-founder, Amogy. Photo credit: Amogy
Using ammonia-to-power solutions, Amogy successfully sailed the NH3 Kraken, the world’s first carbon-free, ammonia-powered vessel. What was the process like from conception to execution?
We are pleased to have successfully sailed the NH3 Kraken, a tugboat originally constructed in 1957 and retrofitted with Amogy’s ammonia-to-electrical power system, on the Hudson River, upstream from New York City.
The retrofitting involved a comprehensive rebuild of the boat; we stripped it to its bare hull and removed all existing equipment and superstructure. Over the past year, the rebuild involved the installation of new systems, beginning with seawater, firefighting, and cooling systems.
We then moved on to installing more advanced processes, such as our ammonia-to-electrical power system. Right from conception to execution, we have gained invaluable insights on integrating our ammonia cracking technology and are excited to use these learnings to bring our product to the market.
Please elaborate on the patented ammonia-to-power technology.
Amogy’s proprietary technology converts ammonia (NH3) into a clean energy source. Our unique catalyst cracks ammonia into hydrogen for direct integration into a fuel cell, generating high-performance power with zero carbon emissions at the point of use.
Our ammonia-to-power technology offers a sustainable, clean energy solution that can be scaled, providing large-scale power for heavy-duty applications such as shipping, transportation, and stationary power.
How will NH3 Kraken help in achieving IMO’s decarbonization goal?
While a mixture of different alternative fuels needs to be included in the bunker mix to achieve IMO’s net zero GHG emissions target by 2050, ammonia’s share in this overall mix could reach up to over 40 percent by 2050.
At Amogy, we recognize that ammonia will be a key fuel with its high energy density making it ideal for long-term storage. The maritime industry has long recognized ammonia as a promising future fuel. However, the technology has not been advanced enough for real-world applications.
The NH3 Kraken’s successful demonstration of ammonia as a fuel for a maritime vessel sends a clear message: Ammonia is both safe and viable, and the technology has matured sufficiently for widespread use.
Amogy aims for the NH3 Kraken to inspire the industry to fully invest in ammonia as a fuel, as we work together to pave the way for complete decarbonization.
By showcasing the feasibility and advantages of ammonia as a marine fuel, Amogy is pioneering a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels. This demonstration highlights our commitment to leading the industry toward a more sustainable, decarbonized future.
How would knowledge gained from NH3 Kraken extend to real-world applications, e.g., retrofit projects and newbuilds?
Amogy has previously completed demonstrations of our ammonia-to-power solution on land-based applications – a 5 kW drone, 100 kW tractor, and 300 kW semi-truck. As a first-of-its-kind project where we successfully demonstrated our technology on the water, this final technical demonstration has provided us with invaluable insights.
As the first customer of our solution, we gained a deep understanding of what our existing and potential customers will encounter when integrating our power system into retrofits or new builds. This first-hand knowledge is crucial as we pivot toward commercialization, equipping us with insights into our customers’ pain points to better support their needs.
Ultimately, we’ve demonstrated that ammonia is not just a possibility — it’s a timely and viable solution for the maritime industry to meet IMO’s net zero greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions target by 2050. We are excited about the implications this has for the future!
Amogy plans to release a case study providing additional technical details in the coming months. What can the industry expect?
Ammonia has been used as a fertilizer for over 100 years, and Amogy aims to work alongside industry partners to ensure its safe introduction into the maritime industry. For Amogy, we are committed to driving this transition with our carbon-free, patented ammonia cracking technology.
We believe that decarbonizing the industry can’t be done alone; it needs the collaboration of different industry players who are also invested in the journey.
We are very excited to share our upcoming case study with the industry, which will go into more detail on the successful demonstration of the retrofitted tugboat, what it means for maritime decarbonization, and the potential of carbon-free ammonia power.
Photo credit: iStock/brutto film
