Industry and academia unite to develop ammonia release and mitigation system

Denmark-based engineering company Eltronic FuelTech has partnered up with Aarhus University’s Department of Biological and Chemical Engineering (BCE) and Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering (MPE) for the ammonia management and zero emission (AMAZE) innovation project that aims to develop an advanced system for minimizing ammonia emissions from dual-fuel vessels.

Funded by the Danish Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Program (EUDP), the joint project seeks to address key challenges in adopting ammonia as a fuel for the shipping industry.

Eltronic noted the main aim is to develop a full-scale prototype solution to minimize ammonia emissions to below 25 ppm from ships operating on dual-fuel technology, adding that by integrating lab-scale systems with advanced computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations, the expected outcome of the project is a “scalable and practical” prototype.

“As a carbon-neutral fuel, ammonia produces no CO2 emissions when burned and can be sustainably produced from renewable energy sources. This makes ammonia a promising alternative marine fuel, presenting a valuable opportunity to reduce the environmental footprint of maritime transportation,” the company said.

It is understood that the collaboration will begin with lab-scale tests, simulations, and experiments led by Aarhus University. Eltronic FuelTech is expected to engage all engineering disciplines in the project, including process engineering, mechanical engineering, mechanical construction, electrical and software engineering, risk management, documentation, assembly and testing.

As disclosed, the AMAZE project will commence in February 2025 and run until the end of 2027. Eltronic will, reportedly, develop a full-scale test system for Aarhus University’s test site in Foulum near Viborg.

“At Eltronic FuelTech, we are eager to embark on this journey and look forward to playing a crucial role, in collaboration with our partners at Aarhus University. This project represents a significant step toward greener maritime operations, reinforcing the commitment to innovation and environmental responsibility,” Eltronic stated.

In other news, Eltronic FuelTech completed the delivery of the “world’s first” 2.5-inch fuel valve train (FVT)-MeOH, designed for the CPGC-MAN12G95ME-C10.5-LGIM engine — the largest methanol dual-fuel main engine built in China.

The delivery was marked by a ceremony at the CSSC-MES DIESEL Office in Shanghai in January 2025, highlighting a step forward in advancing maritime engine technology and improving fuel efficiency.