TotalEnergies boosts R&D on ammonia as a marine fuel

TotalEnergies, formerly known as Total, is further developing research into the viability of ammonia as an alternative marine fuel through its participation in a series of leading industry initiatives.

In its latest joint effort, TotalEnergies entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with 22 leading companies across diverse industries to initiate a joint study on ammonia as an alternative marine fuel. These industries include energy, mining, power utility, chemical, terminal, shipping, shipbuilding, manufacturing, bunkering and classification society.

This joint study framework will address common cross-industry challenges that need to be overcome for ammonia to contribute to the decarbonization of the shipping industry, including the safety assessment of an ammonia-fueled ship and ammonia bunkering, ammonia fuel specification and the net carbon emissions from ammonia production.

The other 22 signatories of this joint study are Itochu Enex, Itochu, Abs, Anglo American, Classnk, DNV, Equinor, Fortescue Metals Group, Genco Shipping & Trading, Jera, K-line, MAN Energy Solutions, Mitsui E&S Machinery, Nihon Shipyard, NS United, Pavilion Energy, Trafigura, Ube Industries, Uniper SE, Uyeno Transtech, Vale and Vopak Terminal Singapore.

As a carbon-free molecule, ammonia is a promising alternative fuel for large vessels and deep-sea shipping to significantly reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within the shipping industry. In particular, green ammonia – produced from green hydrogen using renewable electricity, water and air – could play a major role in enabling the industry to meet the carbon emission reduction targets being proposed by 2050 by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).