New partnership to decarbonize maritime sector through ammonia deployment

U.S.-based ammonia power solutions company Amogy has entered a partnership with shipbuilding major Hanwha Ocean and aerospace industrial company Hanwha Aerospace, both affiliates of South Korean Hanwha Group, to accelerate the decarbonization of the maritime industry through the deployment of Amogy’s zero-emission ammonia-to-power technology for ammonia-powered vessels.

Specifically, Hanwha Ocean has signed a contract to purchase Amogy’s ammonia-to-electrical power system including Hanwha Aerospace’s hydrogen fuel cell system.

The three companies will work together to deploy the technology, Amogy said, adding that this partnership represents a “timely and significant commitment to sustainable innovation” and is poised to deliver environmental benefits, showcasing a “scalable and impactful solution” for reducing the maritime industry’s carbon footprint.

“The use of ammonia as a zero-carbon fuel not only promises to significantly cut greenhouse gas emissions but also serves as a beacon for other sectors striving for sustainability,” Amogy claimed.

Seonghoon Woo, CEO at Amogy, stated: “Our partnership with Hanwha Ocean and Hanwha Aerospace is a testament to our shared belief in the power of innovation to address some of the most pressing environmental challenges. By combining our ammonia-to-power technology with Hanwha Ocean’s industry-leading shipbuilding capabilities and Hanwha Aerospace’s fuel cell system expertise, we are setting a new standard for clean energy in the maritime sector.”

Hyoung Seog Kim, Executive Vice President at Hanwha Ocean, noted: “Ammonia stands out as an eco-friendly energy source including strengths in storage and transportation, it is also an important energy source of Hanwha Ocean’s pioneering maritime decarbonization solutions. Through this partnership, and with Amogy’s ammonia-to-electrical power system and Hanwha Aerospace’s hydrogen fuel cell system, we move toward a more sustainable and carbon-neutral future, taking a significant stride forward.”

Seunghak Moon, Head of E-Propulsion System Business Group at Hanwha Aerospace, commented: “As hydrogen fuel cell systems integrated with ammonia systems are essential for decarbonization in the marine industry, we will maximize synergy through this partnership with Hanwha Ocean and Amogy. This technology can play an important role in the net zero ecosystem for maritime transportation.”

According to Amogy, its ammonia-to-electrical power system splits, or “cracks,” liquid ammonia into its base elements of hydrogen and nitrogen, which then funnels the hydrogen into a fuel cell, generating high-performance power at five times the energy density of lithium batteries.

The company was awarded a feasibility statement by Lloyd’s Register (LR) in February 2024 as the official approval of its technology qualification plan (TQP), marking a new milestone in certifying that Amogy’s technology is viable for maritime applications.

In 2024, Amogy formed several ammonia technology-related partnerships, with the most recent one being with Japan-based trading and import/export company ITOCHU Corporation to explore the potential application of Amogy’s technology on ITOCHU’s maritime vessels.