In an open letter addressed to marine engine manufacturers, 20 environmental organizations are urging for transparency regarding N2O and NH3 emissions from ammonia-powered engines. They highlight the significant impact of N2O as a potent greenhouse gas and the contribution of NH3 emissions to air pollution and indirect N2O emissions.
Natacha Stamatiou, Senior Analyst at Environmental Defense Fund, emphasizes the importance of comprehensive data on emissions from ammonia engines to accurately assess its environmental impact throughout its lifecycle.
The letter requests manufacturers to provide preliminary N2O and NH3 emissions data from laboratory tests, covering a wide range of load factors from 5% to 90%.
Acknowledging the challenges associated with new technologies, the letter expresses readiness to collaborate with manufacturers to gather data independently and ensure credibility.
Sönke Diesener from The Nature and Biodiversity Conservation Union stresses the urgency of addressing climate concerns and emphasizes the need for transparency to minimize risks and find suitable technical solutions.
The letter coincides with MAN Energy Solutions' announcement of installing an ammonia engine on a bulk carrier newbuilding for a joint venture involving K Line, NS United, and Itochu Corporation. MAN's Vice President, Brian Østergaard Sørensen, views this as a significant milestone in ammonia-engine development and underscores the progress made in understanding ammonia's characteristics as a marine fuel.
MAN has been developing the engine since 2019, with extensive testing and over 100,000 man-hours invested.
Meanwhile, trials of operating an ammonia engine onboard a vessel have commenced in Singapore, overseen by the Maritime & Port Authority of Singapore (MPA). The converted offshore vessel Fortescue Green Pioneer has been retrofitted with an ammonia engine for these trials.
