Connect with us

Alternative Fuels

Singapore: SMI funding to research projects includes ammonia bunkering

SMI recently awarded funding to three research projects which are aimed at decarbonising maritime operations, including mitigation technology and environmental impact from ammonia bunkering release.

Admin

Published

on

post 56846

The Singapore Maritime Institute (SMI) on Friday (28 July) said it has recently awarded funding to three research projects which are aimed at decarbonising maritime operations, including mitigation technology and environmental impact from ammonia bunkering release. 

SMI said the funding is to support Singapore’s maritime industry following member countries agreeing to reach net zero by or around close to 2050 at the IMO MEPC 80 session held early this month, with new intermediate milestones and targets for 2030 and 2040. 

“This has provided greater clarity and impetus for the maritime industry to strive to meet the net zero target by mid-century,” it said in a social media post. 

The three projects include:

  • Mitigation technology and environmental impact from ammonia bunkering release 

Led by Maritime Energy & Sustainable Development Centre of Excellence (MESD), in collaboration with the Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC) and NUS Tropical Marine Science Institute, the project aims to deepen our understanding of ammonia leakage modelling which affects bunkering safety, mitigation technology, environmental impact and emergency responses. This will contribute to the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA) policy and planning considerations in preparation for the future of ammonia bunkering as a low/zero carbon fuel for international shipping in the Port of Singapore.

  • Ammonia fed solid oxide fuel cell as a power source for maritime industries 

Through this project, researchers at the Energy Research Institute @ NTU aim to investigate the use of ammonia in Solid Oxide Fuel Cell systems at ports to generate low-carbon power. Industry collaborators for this project include Jurong Port and Surbana Jurong Group.

  • Advanced modelling and simulation of future harbour craft electrification standards for Singapore 

Led by the Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), a research centre under A*STAR – Agency for Science, Technology and Research, this project supports MPA’s policy and planning considerations of its recently announced plans for Singapore’s domestic harbourcraft sector to achieve net zero emissions target by 2030. It seeks to examine various planning scenarios of large-scale harbour craft electrification and aims to help policymakers understand the characteristics and power requirements of electric harbour craft fleet, as well as the charging infrastructure requirements based on the industry’s operational needs.

“SMI looks forward to successful outcomes from all the above research projects, which we are confident will strengthen Singapore’s efforts to drive and decarbonise the sustainable maritime sector,” it said. 

Related: Singapore ammonia bunkering consortium moves forward with ABS AiP
Related: Singapore: MPA, partners develop mitigation and safety measures for ammonia bunkering
Related: SMW 2023: EOI for ammonia power generation and bunkering closing by 30 April
Related: Singapore calls for proposals to develop hydrogen, ammonia bunkering solutions
Related: Singapore: MESD researchers publish paper on accidental release of ammonia during ammonia bunkering
Related: MPA factsheet outlines local schemes on reducing carbon emissions
Related: Singapore harbourcraft will need to reach net-zero emissions by 2050

 

Photo credit: Singapore Maritime Institute
Published: 31 July, 2023

Continue Reading

Alternative Fuels

MOL inks bio-LNG bunker fuel supply deals with Titan and Axpo for car carriers in Europe

Titan, part of Amsterdam-based Molgas, will continue to supply bio-LNG fuel in Northwest Europe, while Axpo will take charge of supply in the Mediterranean region.

Admin

Published

on

By

MOL inks bio-LNG bunker fuel supply deals with Titan and Axpo for car carriers in Europe

Mitsui OSK Lines (MOL) on Thursday (18 July) said it has signed new supply agreements in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean region to expand the use of bio-LNG marine fuel on MOL-operated LNG-fuelled car carriers.

Titan, part of Amsterdam-based Molgas, will continue to supply bio-LNG fuel in Northwest Europe, while Axpo will take charge of supply in the Mediterranean region.

MOL said the agreement makes it possible for its company to supply bio-LNG fuel for automobile carriers in the Mediterranean region, specifically Port of Malaga and Barcelona in Spain, following the bio-LNG fuel supply agreement in Western Europe, which commenced in March last year.

The bio-LNG fuel to be supplied in this initiative has a lifecycle carbon intensity (carbon dioxide emissions per unit of energy consumption) of -15 g-CO2/MJ or less, from production through consumption. Furthermore, this bio-LNG fuel has obtained International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC-EU). 

“Through this supply agreement, MOL has established a framework that ensures a continuous and stable supply of bio-LNG fuel not only in Northern Europe but also in the Mediterranean,” the company said.

As part of the group’s efforts to adopt alternative fuels and achieve net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, it is utilising LNG-fuelled vessels as a bridge solution to facilitate the transition to carbon-neutral fuels such as bio-LNG and synthetic LNG (e-methane).

In 2025, MOL signed a bio LNG fuel supply agreement in Northwest Europe with Titan, part of the Molgas, and MOL has continued this bio LNG fuel supply agreement with the same company in 2026 as well.

 

Photo credit: Mitsui OSK Lines
Published: 19 June, 2026

Continue Reading

Biofuel

Kvasir Technologies lands EUR 10 million to scale bio bunker fuel production

The Danish biofuel startup raised the fund in a Series A investment round, which will provide capital to develop and design a new commercial production plant and scale climate-neutral drop-in marine fuel.

Admin

Published

on

By

Kvasir Technologies lands EUR 10 million to scale bio bunker fuel production

Danish biofuel startup Kvasir Technologies on Thursday (18 June) said it has raised EUR 10 million (USD 11.4 million) in a Series A investment round with participation from European Energy as a new investor, alongside existing investors EIFO, Maersk Growth and Footprint Fund. 

The Series A round provides capital to develop and design a new commercial production plant and scale climate-neutral drop-in fuel to be used in existing vessels.

At the same time, European Energy and Kvasir Technologies are entering into a strategic partnership by establishing the company KVEEN Biofuels, which is working towards the construction of a commercial-scale plant to produce biofuels using Kvasir Technologies’ patented technology.

“This investment round enables us to take the next crucial steps in developing and scaling our technology. At the same time, it underlines that there is still strong support for solutions that can deliver real climate impact in the maritime sector,” said Joachim Bachmann Nielsen, Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering and CEO of Kvasir Technologies.

Kvasir Technologies, a spin-out from research at the Technical University of Denmark (DTU), has developed a new technology to convert a wide range of non-edible lignin- based residues from agriculture and forestry into refined biofuels for shipping.

The climate-neutral biofuel can serve as an immediate replacement for fossil marine fuel without the need to modify ship engines or change existing infrastructure.

The new funding will be used, among other things, to scale the technology at Kvasir Technologies’ test facility in Fredericia, which can produce up to 2 metric tonnes (mt) of biofuel per day.

At the same time, development work will begin on the first commercial plant in the city of Aabenraa in the southern part of Jutland, which will demonstrate the technology on an industrial scale.

 

Photo credit: Kvasir Technologies
Published: 19 June, 2026

Continue Reading

Engine

BeHydro secures LR’s first class approval for 100% hydrogen marine engine

Engine has been developed and tested at ABC Engines’ facility in Ghent and is designed to operate entirely on hydrogen, without the need for pilot fuels.

Admin

Published

on

By

BeHydro secures LR’s first class approval for 100% hydrogen marine engine

Classification society Lloyd’s Register (LR) on Wednesday (17 June) said it has issued the first Type Approval Certificate for a 100% hydrogen-fuelled, spark-ignited marine engine.

The approval has been awarded to the hydrogen engine developed by BeHydro and confirms the design meets LR’s requirements for safety, performance and reliability in marine applications.

The engine has been developed and tested at ABC Engines’ facility in Ghent and is designed to operate entirely on hydrogen, without the need for pilot fuels. This simplifies system design and removes onboard carbon emissions at source, positioning the technology as a practical option for operators exploring zero-carbon propulsion.

Claudene Sharp-Patel, Global Technical Director, Lloyd’s Register, said: “The issue of this Type Approval Certificate demonstrates that hydrogen-fuelled internal combustion engine technology is continuing to mature as a viable option for maritime applications.

“For shipowners and operators, independent certification is essential in building confidence that emerging fuel technologies can meet the industry’s expectations for safety, reliability and operational performance.”

Tim Berckmoes, CEO at ABC Engines, said: “This LRS type approval of our BeHydro 100% hydrogen engines with zero emissions is a confirmation of the future proof technology that BeHydro can offer to innovative shipowners worldwide.

“The 100% hydrogen engine range is available from 900 kW till 2670 kW for different marine applications.”

LR previously awarded Type Approval to BeHydro for its hydrogen-powered dual-fuel engine in 2023, which was the first Type Approval for a dual-fuel hydrogen engine. 

 

Photo credit: Lloyd’s Register
Published: 19 June, 2026

Continue Reading

Trending