A Global First,A Successful Maiden Voyage,Pure Ammonia Fuel Ship
Souce: Xinhua website
World's first pure ammonia-fueled demonstration vessel completes maiden voyage in China
On June 28, 2025, the world’s first pure ammonia-powered demonstration vessel, the “Anhui”, successfully completed its maiden voyage in Hefei, Anhui Province, marking a groundbreaking milestone in the industrial application of ammonia fuel for maritime transportation. Developed jointly by the Energy Research Institute of the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center and its subsidiary Shenzhen Haixu New Energy Co., Ltd., the vessel showcases China’s leadership in advancing low-carbon shipping technologies.
Ammonia fuel: a potential stock for shipping decarbonization
Ammonia is an important raw material for today's chemical industry. Due to its high energy density, no carbon element, and only water and nitrogen generated after complete combustion, ammonia fuel has great application potential and is regarded as a "potential stock" for shipping decarbonization. In recent years, many shipping companies in Japan, Norway and other countries have invested in the research and development of ammonia-powered ships. The International Energy Agency report predicts that by 2050, ammonia will account for 45% of shipping energy demand. However, the application of ammonia fuel also faces challenges such as difficult ignition and unstable combustion.
Technology breaks through the application difficulties of ammonia fuel
According to the Hydrogen Energy and Ammonia Application Research Center of the Energy Research Institute of the Hefei Comprehensive National Science Center, after more than two years of research, the team has conquered a number of key core technologies, including pure ammonia fuel plasma ignition technology, pure ammonia fuel continuous combustion technology, ammonia efficient catalytic cracking hydrogen production technology, and hydrogen-ammonia mixed gas fuel efficient combustion and control technology in gas internal combustion engines. It has also independently developed pure ammonia fuel burners, multi-model ammonia efficient catalytic cracking hydrogen production devices and other system equipment.
Tests successfully verify the application of ammonia-hydrogen fusion fuel in multiple fields
This launch test achieved the expected goals of stable and full combustion of pure ammonia fuel, near-zero carbon dioxide emissions, and effective control of nitrogen oxides, fully verifying that ammonia-hydrogen fusion fuel can be promoted and applied in the fields of marine transportation, land transportation, industrial and civilian boilers, solid fuel cells, etc. in the future. Wang Junli, Secretary-General of the China Ship and Ocean Engineering Society, said that the successful operation of the pure ammonia power demonstration ship is of great milestone significance for accelerating the construction of a clean, low-carbon, safe and efficient water transportation energy system.