Within the framework of cooperation between the public and private sectors to find alternative energy solutions that are carbon-neutral, The Government of Norway has funded a project with a consortium of local companies specialized in maritime transport, To design and build ships that use ammonia as fuel instead of diesel in short-distance river and sea transport. With this project, Norway completes its ambitious plan to adopt “green” ammonia in the maritime transport sector in a large commercial manner. which I started last year with a project to set up an ammonia refueling network for ships.

Humans have always used ammonia extensively as an agricultural fertilizer. Before they realized its importance as fuel since the beginning of the last century. But although ammonia combustion itself does not emit gases harmful to the environment, Its traditional production process causes heavy carbon dioxide emissions, Because it requires high pressure and temperature exceeding 400 degrees Celsius, This means fossil fuels must be used. But over the past year or two, new technologies have emerged through which ammonia can be produced in commercial quantities without harmful emissions. It uses renewable electrical energy to produce it from water and air. A feature of ammonia liquid is that, Unlike hydrogen fuel, Does not need to be stored at high pressure or cooled, It contains ten times the potential energy generated by lithium-ion batteries. Both fuel cells and internal combustion engines can also be used effectively, As well as it is an inexhaustible fuel.

In this regard, The Norwegian government has taken a step closer to exploiting ammonia as fuel. By funding a project aimed at designing and building ships that use ammonia as fuel instead of diesel in short-distance river and sea transport. The joint venture FlexBulk will receive NOK 13.75 million (US$1.5 million) in funding from the three-party Pilot-E program. namely the Norwegian Research Council, and the government-owned Innovation Norway, ENOVA is owned by the Ministry of Climate and Environment. The Pilot-E program is designed to support innovative new projects in the maritime transport sector from project idea development to full implementation. Flex Balk was joined by three private Norwegian companies involved in maritime transport and logistics operations.

The company established to manage the project will build and operate vessels designed to transport short-distance bulk materials powered by ammonia fuel. The startup has signed memorandums of understanding with seven companies engaged in the field of leasing bulk transport vessels to promote it and use its customers. The company will build the world’s first ammonia-powered fleet.

The Flex Balk project complements another project in the pipeline launched last summer with a government grant from the Norwegian Green Platform program worth 89 million kronor (approximately $10 million) to establish a network for transporting, distributing and storing ammonia fuel in a safe and cost-effective manner. and supply ships with it.

As ammonia fuel is of global interest to stakeholders, Analysts believe that this fuel will play a pivotal role in reducing greenhouse gas pollution from cargo ships. It accounts for approximately 3% of the world’s total carbon dioxide emissions due to its consumption of an estimated 300 million tons of polluting diesel annually. Although this percentage may seem small, But it is a cycle of global warming that must now be dealt with. Because their processing requires a long time. According to the reports of the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), The world has only a decade left to limit climate warming to one and a half degrees Celsius than it was before the Industrial Revolution to spare the world greater consequences. This will require radical solutions to reduce carbon emissions from various industries and sectors. As agreed by the members of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), It is responsible for regulating the sector globally, to reduce emissions from the sector by 50% by 2050 compared to 2008.

This is why Norway has taken a leading role in combating climate change in a sector where it has the expertise to contribute to solutions not only at the national level. But at the level of the global shipping sector. This trend is reflected in the importance that the Government of Norway has attached to public financing schemes to stimulate technological innovation in finding green solutions. Especially in the fields of energy, industries and transport, Through the Pilot-E program.

However, these two projects for the widespread commercial use of ammonia fuel in maritime transport are not without technical and economic challenges that stakeholders are still working to overcome. Since the energy density of ammonia fuel is half that of diesel, Tanks of ships must be twice that of diesel ships, That is, ammonia tanks will occupy part of the space designated for the shipment of goods, This means reducing the ship’s capacity to transport goods, Thus reducing profits. This may make shipping companies reluctant to replace their fleets despite the environmental benefits of ammonia fuel. This also applies to terminal tanks that refuel ships and will need to double their capacity. On the other hand Energy companies and governments will have to invest heavily in increasing renewable energy projects. Such as solar and wind, To meet the expected need of ammonia fuel production.

But despite the difficulties, It is a foregone conclusion that all countries interested in shipping agree on the need to reduce emissions from the sector. The most suitable option remains in ammonia fuel. With the political will of Norway steadfast in its plan, It seems capable of achieving its goal at least nationwide, It hopes that other countries around the world will gradually adopt it.

References:

• https://www.offshore-energy.biz/norwegian-jv-gets-public-funding-to-build-ammonia-fueled-ships/
• https://www.offshore-energy.biz/worlds-1st-green-ammonia-terminal-wins-major-governmental-grant/
• https://www.theexplorer.no/stories/energy/how-norway-helps-to-commercialise-environment-friendly-energy-techology/
• https://spectrum.ieee.org/why-the-shipping-industry-is-betting-big-on-ammonia