Longer-term low/zero emission

energy sources for the shipping

sector – green ammonia
ICCT Technical Workshop on Zero Emission Vessel Technology
San Francisco
Tim Scarbrough, Ricardo Energy & Environment
9th July 2019
© Ricardo–AEA Ltd 2019
 Our Vision:

We want to create a world where everyone

can live sustainably

Our Mission:

Solving the world’s most pressing energy

and environmental challenges
© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 2
This presentation is based on a Ricardo report “Sailing on Solar”
for Environmental Defense Fund Europe

• Ash, N. and Scarbrough, T., ‘Sailing on solar: Could green

ammonia decarbonise international shipping?’, Environmental
Defense Fund, London, 2019.
– images reproduced in this presentation © EDF, used with permission

• Promoted during IMO MEPC 74 in London in May 2019

• Available for download:
https://europe.edf.org/news/2019/02/05/shipping-can-reduce-
climate-pollution-and-draw-investment-developing-countries
• Upcoming webinar on 25th July

© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 3

Efficiency gains will be insufficient.
Zero carbon fuels are required to meet and exceed the 2050 decarbonisation target

“a 50% total cut by 2050

can realistically only be
achieved with the
development and
widespread use, by a
large proportion of the
fleet, of zero CO2 fuels”

– International Chamber of
Shipping, 2018

© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 4

What is ammonia?

• NH3
• Colourless pungent gas

x
• Used in /as
– Fertiliser industry
– Pharmaceuticals
– Cleaning products
– Refrigerant
• Made today predominately from fossil fuels

© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 5

What is green ammonia?

• Made with renewable inputs (desalinated water, air, renewable electricity)

• Using proven technologies (electrolyser, nitrogen production, Haber-Bosch process)

© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 6

Conceptual layout of a Nitrogen storage tanks

green ammonia plant

Hydrogen storage tanks Nitrogen production
Solar PV (air separation unit)

CSP

Hydrogen production
(electrolyser plant)
Desalination

Ammonia synthesis
(Haber-Bosch)

Ammonia storage tanks

© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 7
We should compare properties of zero GHG fuels to other zero GHG fuels
Ammonia offers a relatively useful set of properties

Tank volumes for liquefied gases (LNG, ammonia, hydrogen) account for insulation (“system-level” densities).
LNG: own calculations based on commercially available LNG storage tanks
Ammonia: own calculations based on expected design of ammonia storage tanks (inner tank, insulation, outer)
Hydrogen: Minnehan and Pratt (2017), Comer (2019)
© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 8
Key pros and cons compared to fossil fuels
Key pros and cons compared to zero carbon fuels

© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 9

Co-benefits: most air pollutants reduced.
Additional benefits of fuel cells: zero pollution and reduced noise/vibration

© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 10

There are multiple options for using ammonia as a marine fuel.
These include combustion engines to help transition the sector from HFO/MDO.
The greatest long term potential for emissions benefits are with fuel cells.

Ammonia in
compression ignition Dual fuel: HFO/ gas oil Retrofit existing
engines?

Engines
engine
Dual fuel: with
LNG/LPG/petrol
Ammonia in spark
ignition engine Dual fuel: with hydrogen
cracked from the
ammonia

Proton Exchange
Ammonia as hydrogen Membrane Fuel Cell Zero GHG
carrier in hydrogen fuel
Fuel cells

(PEMFC)
cell
Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Potential highest
Ammonia used directly (SOFC)
in fuel cell efficiency?

© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 11

Ammonia engine schematic – requiring support fuel

© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 12

Ammonia engine schematic – cracking hydrogen as support fuel

© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 13

The pathway to its deployment can begin using technologies familiar to the maritime
sector: compression ignition engines running in dual fuel operation

The technology deployment timetable must be swift to meet decarbonisation targets

© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 14
 Ammonia has different hazards to other fuels.
Increased health hazards but lower flammability risk.
Existing technology solutions for ammonia’s hazards.

Ammonia Hydrogen
MGO LNG Methanol
(liq.) (liq.)

• Flammable (2) • Flammable (4) • Flammable (3) • Flammable (1) • Flammable (4)
Physical
hazards

• Gas under • Gas under • Gas under

pressure pressure pressure
• Acute toxicity
• Aspiration hazard • Acute toxicity
hazards

• Acute toxicity
Health

• Skin corrosion
• Carcinogenic • Specific target • Skin corrosion
• Organ toxicity organ toxicity
US NFPA704 hazards

• Toxic to aquatic • Toxic to aquatic

Env.

life life
Summary

© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 15

There are established infrastructure and safety protocols for the production,
transport and storage of ammonia

173 million tonnes

ammonia produced in
2017, of which ~11% is
exported/imported

Map: ammonia
exports in 2017

Graph: ammonia
production and
exports, 2017
Data source: International
Fertilizer Association, 2018
© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 16
Green ammonia is an opportunity for investment in sustainable infrastructure

• There is potential to stimulate investment of up to USD 6 trillion between now and 2050
• Approximately three quarters of this would be for renewable electricity plants
• Green ammonia could drive investment in renewable energy

© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 17

The land area required for solar electricity to produce green ammonia for the
international shipping fleet in 2050 is not excessive

3. Entire international fleet

(average growth)
2. Container & non-coal
dry bulk vessels (high growth)

1. Container & non-coal

dry bulk vessels (low growth)
1. 2,840 TWh/y
2. 5,200 TWh/y
3. 10,000 TWh/y
© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 18
Green ammonia bunkering facilities could be distributed around the world –
particularly in developing countries with renewable potential

Example: Morocco

• Abundant renewable resources with ambitions to expand

• Located along busy shipping lanes
• Established inorganic chemistry sector

Renewable potential far exceeds potential demand for renewable

electricity to produce green ammonia bunker fuel*

Demand from green ammonia production: ~0.3 TWh/day

Theoretical potential of solar + wind: ~48 TWh/day

*To supply the container and dry bulk vessels passing through Morocco’s ports in 2017. Data source: IRENA, 2014

© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 19

Morocco example continued – port level

• Jorf Lasfar is port

about 100km from
Casablanca
• 700 tpd ammonia
plant sufficient for
≈ daily fuel
consumption of 4
post-panamax
vessels
• Fuel sales would
generate $194m
annual revenue
• Would need
300MW solar plant
AND another
source

© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 20

Thank you

Ricardo Energy & Environment

30 Eastbourne Terrace, London, W2 6LA, UK

Tim Scarbrough
Associate Director

Direct Dial: +44 (0)1235 753 159

Reception: +44 (0)1235 753 000
Mobile: +44 (0)7718 321 904
Tim.Scarbrough@ricardo.com

ee.ricardo.com

© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 21

Open questions for discussion

• Policy measures (funding) to achieve price

parity with status quo fossil fuels
• Certification of green ammonia to differentiate
from fossil-derived ammonia
• Chicken/egg – sufficiently distributed
infrastructure
• Retrofit option – including where to put the
fuel tanks
• Pathway to ship certification to be allowed to
use ammonia as fuel

© Ricardo-AEA Ltd 2019 July 2019 22