JDP set up to develop ammonia-fuelled auxiliary engines

Wärtsilä and Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) have set up a joint development programme (JDP) to develop four-stroke marine auxiliary engines, fuelled by ammonia.

The engine company is already working on clean-fuel technology, and has already completed successful tests on an engine operating on a fuel mix comprising 70% ammonia. It aims to be able to release details of an engine concept capable of 100% ammonia operation in 2023.

SHI vice president, Youngkyu Ahn, said: “There is a lot of interest from owners and operators in the potential for new clean-burning fuels, and ammonia is thought to be among the most promising of these candidates. Wärtsilä has already made significant progress in testing ammonia, and we are pleased to work together with them to bring this to reality.”

The South Korean shipbuilder believes that initial newbuild targets using ammonia as fuel will include container ships and large tankers, operating with two-stroke main engines and four-stroke auxiliaries. 

Wärtsilä Marine Power’s Östen Lindell, sales director, commented: “The adoption of a new generation of carbon-free fuels is central to a decarbonised future for shipping, so this JDP agreement represents an important step forward.”