Amogy, a leader in carbon-free energy solutions, has announced a landmark achievement with the successful maiden voyage of the NH3 Kraken, the world’s first ammonia-powered maritime vessel. The retrofitted tugboat, originally built in 1957, navigated a tributary of the Hudson River, just upstream from New York City, marking a significant milestone in the quest for sustainable maritime transport.
This successful demonstration is seen as a vital step towards slashing global carbon emissions and aligning the maritime industry with the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) ambitious target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
“Governments worldwide and industry bodies like the IMO are setting bold objectives to curb carbon emissions,” stated Seonghoon Woo, CEO and co-founder of Amogy. “While these targets may appear daunting, our successful demonstration of the world’s first carbon-free ammonia-powered vessel proves that achieving them is within reach.”
Amogy plans to leverage insights gained from this demonstration to enhance real-world applications of its innovative technology, encompassing both retrofit initiatives and new vessel construction. The company is already in collaboration with key partners, including Hanwha Ocean and Terox, on various ongoing contracts.
The cutting-edge ammonia-to-electrical power system developed by Amogy works by breaking down liquid ammonia into its fundamental components: hydrogen and nitrogen. The hydrogen is then directed into a fuel cell, generating electricity without emitting carbon. Amogy emphasizes that this technology presents a sustainable energy solution tailored specifically for hard-to-abate sectors, such as maritime shipping.
“Ammonia is the second most widely produced chemical globally, with approximately 20 million tons traded annually across 200 ports,” Woo remarked. “Given its extensive availability, transitioning the industry to utilize ammonia as a fuel is not only feasible but can occur at an accelerated pace.”
The NH3 Kraken’s demonstration stands as the most significant application of Amogy’s technology to date, following previous successful demonstrations of its systems in aerial drones, commercial farm tractors, and semi-trucks. This pioneering endeavor underscores the potential of ammonia as a clean fuel source and positions Amogy at the forefront of the shift toward sustainable maritime operations.
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