Revolutionary: Carbon-Free Ammonia-Powered Ship Sets Sail

The NH3 Kraken, a tugboat originally constructed in 1957 and retrofitted with Amogy’s ammonia-to-electrical power system, recently embarked on a historic journey on a tributary of the Hudson River, upstream from New York City.

This groundbreaking demonstration marks a significant milestone in the quest to reduce global carbon emissions and propel the maritime industry closer to the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) target of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. It not only showcases the effectiveness of Amogy’s innovative technology but also highlights the potential of ammonia as a sustainable, carbon-free maritime fuel.

Seonghoon Woo, CEO and co-founder of Amogy, emphasized the importance of such initiatives in combating climate change, stating, “Governments worldwide and industry bodies like the IMO have set ambitious targets to curb carbon emissions. While these goals may seem daunting, our successful voyage of the world’s first carbon-free, ammonia-powered vessel proves that they are indeed attainable.”

The successful deployment of the NH3 Kraken represents the most significant application of Amogy’s technology to date, following previous successful demonstrations with various vehicles. Leveraging the insights gained from this milestone, Amogy is poised to accelerate the commercialization and implementation of its technology in both retrofit projects and newbuilds, with collaborations already underway with key industry players.

Amogy’s proprietary ammonia-to-electrical power system works by breaking down liquid ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen, which are then utilized in a fuel cell to generate high-performance power without any carbon emissions. This cutting-edge technology offers a sustainable energy solution tailored for challenging sectors like maritime shipping and stationary power generation. During the recent demonstration, the NH3 Kraken was powered by green ammonia produced entirely from renewable sources, further enhancing its environmental credentials.

The global shipping industry currently accounts for nearly 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually, equivalent to the output of a major economy like Germany or Japan. The successful voyage of the NH3 Kraken underscores the immense potential of ammonia in revolutionizing the shipping sector and other energy generation sources in the years ahead.

Looking ahead, Amogy plans to release a comprehensive case study in the near future, providing in-depth technical insights and further details on the transformative capabilities of its carbon-free technology.