Amogy and ITOCHU to explore ammonia-to-power vessel

US-based ammonia tech company Amogy will provide its ammonia-to-power technology, which converts liquid ammonia into hydrogen gas to power fuel cells in vessels.

PHOTO: A model of Amogy's previously proposed ammonia-to-power vessel. Amogy

Amogy will develop this technology for vessels chartered by Japanese trading company ITOCHU.

Both the companies will explore options to deploy ammonia-to-power technology on existing vessels suitable for retrofitting, or design new ones, Amogy said.

These systems transform liquid ammonia into electrical power by “cracking” liquid ammonia into its base elements – hydrogen and nitrogen. The hydrogen is then funnelled into a fuel cell for efficient generation of electricity onboard a vessel, the company said.

Amogy's technology uses unique catalysts to crack ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen. According to the Ammonia Energy Association, ammonia cracking is typically done at temperatures of 850-950°C using a nickel catalyst.

“We… expect Amogy’s solution to be an option for development of our integrated project for using ammonia as a marine fuel,” ITOCHU’s general manager for green innovation business, Takeo Akamatsu, said.

Both companies also have the option to extend the partnership to cover other projects within the broader ammonia-hydrogen ecosystem, including ammonia bunkering projects and ammonia supply equipment.

By Aparupa Mazumder 

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