In a major green shipping breakthrough, the world’s first pure ammonia-powered demonstration vessel, the Anhui, recently completed its maiden voyage in Hefei, in Anhui Province on the Chinese mainland. The achievement highlights ammonia’s potential as a carbon-free marine fuel.
Ammonia is a staple in the chemical industry and stands out for its high energy density and zero carbon emissions when combusted—it yields only water and nitrogen. According to a 2021 International Energy Agency report, ammonia could supply around 45 percent of global shipping energy demand by 2050 under a net-zero emissions pathway. Yet challenges like ignition difficulties and unstable combustion have slowed its adoption.
The Anhui was jointly developed by the Institute of Energy of the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center and its subsidiary, Shenzhen Haixu New Energy Co., Ltd. It features a 200 kW high-speed gas internal combustion generator, two 100 kW propulsion motors, and a twin-screw propulsion system. On a full load, it can carry 50 tonnes and sustain speeds up to 10 knots.
Key breakthroughs came from the research team led by Wu Dianwu of the institute. They mastered pure ammonia plasma ignition, sustained combustion, and the catalytic cracking of ammonia to release hydrogen. Advanced control systems now ensure efficient combustion of ammonia-hydrogen mixes, which paves the way for broader use in marine and land transport, industrial boilers, and fuel cells.
Wang Junli, secretary-general of the Chinese Society of Naval Architects and Marine Engineers, hailed the voyage as a milestone for low-carbon water transport. Scaling pure ammonia engines to megawatt levels could transform global shipping and help meet ambitious carbon reduction targets on the Chinese mainland and beyond.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
