A consortium led by AFC Energy PLC (AIM:AFC, OTC:AFGYF) has been awarded funding under the UK government's Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC) for a clean maritime ammonia cracker, as part of a wider initiative to develop low-emission technology for the maritime sector.
The UK Department for Transport and the Innovate UK fund said the consortium will receive almost £677,000 this quarter to design and integrate its proprietary ammonia cracker reactor technology with internal combustion engines to be fuelled by the green ammonia.
The addition of the cracker is designed to allow the engines to run on a mix of hydrogen-rich cracked gas and ammonia.
Engines used in the trial have been designed by MAHLE’s powertrain arm, with specially developed injectors and control valves from Clean Air Power, with the fourth member of the consortium being the University of Nottingham, which will carry out testing and evaluation of the performance, fuel consumption, emissions, safety and practicality.
Shipping companies Eastern Pacific Shipping and Purus are also supporting the trial, providing an industry review of the project and the potential for adoption in transport vessels and larger tankers.
As well as incorporating next-generation technologies, the AFC Energy ammonia cracker will also be tested with a typical combustion engine.
This feasibility study will include and measure the full impact of the cracker on engine combustion, performance, fuel consumption and pollutant emissions compared to a typical marine grade fuel.
If results from a proof-of-concept demonstration, which are expected to be published within 12 months of the start, are successful, the consortium will look to market the process to the maritime vessel market, which is seeking to switch to ammonia as a carbon-free fuel.
The project cost is forecast to be £975,500, with the remaining balance to be funded by contributions from each of the consortium.
AFC chief executive Adam Bond said the company has been “engaging with international shipyards, vessel owners, and designers over the past year and we believe the adoption of ammonia as a decarbonisation maritime fuel is yet another international market for our highly efficient ammonia cracker reactor”.
CMDC is part of a £206 million funding package by the Department for Transport to develop lower-emission technology for the UK maritime sector.