Viking Energy was an all-natural selection for the ammonia fueling task. She the globe’s very first supply vessel powered by LNG when provided in 2003, after that in 2016 she additionally came to be the globe’s very first crossbreed supply vessel. (Image: Eidesvik Offshore)
Equinor has actually authorized an arrangement with Eidesvik Offshore that will certainly see the North Sea supply vessel Viking Energy customized to allow it to cover cross countries powered by carbon-free ammonia gas cells.
The vessel will certainly carry products to installments on the Norwegian continental rack (NCS) under a five-year agreement that will certainly work from April 2020, when its present agreement runs out.
During the agreement duration, the Viking Energy will certainly be the examination bed for a study task creating, mounting as well as examining long-distance cruising sustained by ammonia gas cells. The modern technology will certainly be evaluated on the vessel from 2024.
“Together with Equinor, we are now launching a full-scale research project to test a propulsion solution based on fuel cells running on pure and emission-free ammonia,” states Jan Fredrik Meling, Chief Executive Officer ofEidesvik Offshore “The goal is to install fuel cell modules with a total power of 2 MW on board Viking Energy in 2024. This will make the vessel the world’s first emission-free supply vessel.”
Hydrogen as well as ammonia are extensively thought about both primary no discharge gas prospects for future delivery, with lots of thinking that ammonia stands for the very best choice for longer trips, such as the North Sea supply paths, where ships require to lug huge quantities of gas.
“In the industry, ammonia is reckoned a major part of the solution to reduce the climate footprint from offshore traffic and other shipping segments. We also share that view,” states Vermund Hjelland, Vice President of modern technology as well as growth at Eidesvik Offshore.
EU FINANCING ASSISTANCE
The task is being assistance with EUR 10 million (regarding $11 million) of financing from the EU’s Horizon 2020 program, granted via the ShipFC task, a consortium of 14 European business as well as establishments, co-ordinated by the Norwegian collection company NCE Maritime CleanTech.
The various other primary companions in the five-year research study task are Wärtsilä, providing the power modern technology as well as systems for ammonia storage space as well as circulation, as well as Prototech, providing the gas cell system.
Norwegian plant food business Yara has actually been acquired to provide the environment-friendly ammonia utilized in the gas cells, which will certainly be generated by electrolysis as well as provided to Viking Energy containerized to allow very easy as well as secure refuelling.
“Eidesvik and Wärtsilä have had a particularly close industrial collaboration for a number of years,” statesHjelland “Wärtsilä has provided technology solutions throughout Eidesvik’s development stages, from LNG in 2003, via fuel cell and hybrid solutions, and up to today’s focus on ammonia. The collaboration with Wärtsilä has been very important in getting to where we are today.” Hjelland validates.
“As part of the testing, the vessel will use ammonia in transit between harbor and offshore installations for one year. In addition, we envisage that ammonia will be used to power the vessel when alongside quay. Our ambition is that 60 to 70 percent of the energy consumption will come from ammonia during the test period. In addition, we want to demonstrate that the technology can supply up to 90 per cent of the total power demand,” Hjelland states. He includes that the continuing to be power intake aboard will certainly be powered by LNG, which has actually been Viking Energy‘s primary gas given that 2003.
Having Viking Energy as the examination vessel for the ammonia fueling task was an all-natural selection. Not just was she the globe’s very first supply vessel powered by LNG when provided in 2003, yet in 2016 she additionally came to be the globe’s very first crossbreed supply vessel with course symbols “Battery Power” from DNV GL.
