Ammonia as a potential marine fuel: A review

Abstract

The rising share of renewable energy sources (RES) in the energy mix and the desire to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases and harmful substances have driven broad-based technological advances on a global scale. In recent years, Millennium and Sustainable Development Goals have appeared, seeking to improve and level up standards of living while protecting the environment. Coupled with this, regulations are regularly issued that set increasingly stringent limits on emissions. This review examines the opportunities and challenges facing the maritime sector in light of the game-changing goals set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). First, the review gives a short introduction to RES and considers the feasibility of producing green hydrogen and using ammonia as a carrier. It goes on to discuss the use of ammonia as a marine fuel from a technological, scientific, economic, and legal regulations point of view. The impact of emission regulations on the maritime sector and the challenges of bringing ammonia on board ships are factored in. Finally, the paper presents a technical justification for using solid oxide fuel cells to boost the efficiency of energy conversion.

Keywords

• SOFC
• Maritime sector
• Ammonia
• Power-to-ammonia
• Emission reduction
• Alternative fuels