Wärtsilä is participating in a Norwegian state-funded project to develop ammonia reforming technology for installation on board ammonia (NH3) carriers. The objective of the project is to enable ammonia to be converted back to hydrogen at the receiving destination, allowing ammonia carriers to convert (or catalytically reform) cargoes into hydrogen, acting as a floating receiving terminal capable of being relocated as needed, requiring minimal use of coastal land and a solution resulting in lower overall cost, improved safety and competitive hydrogen prices.

The project includes Norway-based Höegh LNG and other partners, Institute for Energy Technology (IFE), University of South-East Norway, Sustainable Energy and BASF SE have received funding of approximately EUR 5.9 million (USD6.7mn) from the Norwegian Government. The funding is for the development of ammonia as a hydrogen carrier for the energy market and is a part of Norway’s Green Platform programme of initiatives and amounts to approximate 50% of the total budget for the joint project.

The Motorship notes that the development of efficient highly integrated catalytic reforming reactors has been idenfitied as a key dependency for the establishment of ammonia supply chains as a net zero carbon hydrogen carrier.