AFC Energy has been awarded funding under the UK Government's Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (Round 4) to design and integrate its proprietary ammonia cracker reactor technology with marine purposed, ammonia-fueled internal combustion engines. The project aims to develop technology necessary to decarbonize the UK domestic maritime sector. The consortium, led by AFC Energy, has been awarded £676,500 for the project, with industry support from global shipping companies, Eastern Pacific Shipping and Purus.
The ammonia cracker technology aims to improve the combustion and emissions of future ammonia-fueled marine engines by supporting the development of a highly efficient system that can be integrated with a multicylinder marine combustion engine. The project will evaluate the feasibility of AFC Energy's ammonia cracker technology and measure its impact on engine combustion, performance, fuel consumption, and pollutant emissions compared to a typical marine grade fuel.
The project partners include international leaders in engine design, MAHLE Powertrain, specially developed injectors and control valves from Clean Air Power, and testing and evaluation from the University of Nottingham. The project is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2024 and last twelve months, with results from the proof-of-concept demonstration expected to be published twelve months later.
The overall feasibility project cost is forecast to be £975.5k, with grant funding awarded of £676.5k, representing substantial value for money, especially considering the broad project scope, including development and demonstration at the system level. AFC Energy is the lead partner and will provide expertise in ammonia cracking technology, adapted for the unique use-cases of the maritime sector. The project is being supported by two of the global maritime industry's leaders in the sustainable transition, Eastern Pacific Shipping and Purus.
The technology developed could also be used in other applications such as large stationary power generators and large off-road machinery, where AFC Energy is exploring multiple partnerships across global OEMs in this sector. Adam Bond, Chief Executive at AFC Energy, expressed pleasure in being recognized by the UK Government's CMDC4 funding program, highlighting further commercialization potential for their next-generation ammonia cracker reactor.