Mitsubishi, MOL, Kansai Electric plan world’s first ammonia FSRU

Japanese shipbuilder Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, ship operator Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) and Kansai Electric Power will explore floating storage and regasification units (FSRUs) for ammonia.

PHOTO: Model of an ammonia floating storage and regasification unit. Mitsubishi Shipbuilding

The FSRUs will receive ammonia from the production source in a liquid state, and store the ammonia before heating and regasifying it for transfer to onshore pipelines.

Constructing an ammonia FSRU offers cost and time savings compared to an onshore storage facility, Mitsubishi says.

The shipbuilder expects demand for ammonia to pick up as the shipping industry increasingly looks to transition to zero-carbon fuels.

Mitsubishi and MOL have also concluded a study exploring the feasibility of ammonia FSRUs, and using ammonia to power these floating units.

Mitsubishi Shipbuilding, a unit of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, announced the launch of a green shipping organisation this week, which looks to build clean energy carriers.