Swiss marine power company WinGD is on track to deliver its first X-DF-A dual-fuel ammonia engines by the first quarter of 2025, with the first X-DF-A-powered vessels in service from 2026. The confirmation, which follows combustion tests at WinGD research facilities in December 2022, is backed by concrete orders and recent rapid progress in developing an engine concept capable of using zero-carbon fuel efficiently, safely and reliably.
WinGD has disclosed ammonia fuel technology developments involving two ship owners. Last month, it signed an agreement with AET Tankers and sister company Akademi Laut Malaysia to develop crew training on ammonia engines. In January 2023, it announced a partnership with CMB.Tech. A Belgian shipowner and a CMB sister company created ammonia-fueled machines for 10 210,000 DWT bulk carriers.
The developments are supported by solid collaborations with engine and shipbuilders in China, Japan and Korea, as well as by WinGD’s extensive investment in research. Most recently, in June, WinGD signed a memorandum of understanding with Mitsubishi Shipbuilding Co Ltd to prepare X-DF-A for application across a range of vessel sizes and integration with the engine builder’s ammonia fuel supply system. It follows a development project with Hyundai Heavy Industries initiated in June 2022.
Ammonia as a clean, renewable energy source
Ammonia contains no carbon and can be created with minimal supply chain emissions from renewable electricity. While the fuel itself reduces greenhouse gas emissions dramatically, efficiency will remain vital for engines in reducing emissions even further and in lowering costs associated with expensive synthetic fuels. X-DF-A and X-DF-M (the methanol fuel) derive their diesel cycle efficiency from WinGD’s X-Engines, which are well known for its high efficiency and reliability.
Methanol and ammonia meet global sulphur limits. X-DF-A and X-DF-M will be delivered with the appropriate abatement systems to meet compliance standards for all emissions.
WinGD has recently published the guidance and installation documentation for its X-DF-A engines across a range of bore sizes (https://www.wingd.com/en/engines/engine-types/methanol-and-ammonia/)
WinGD CEO Dominik Schneiter said: “For the industry to be truly ready for alternative fuels, the engine concepts that use them—and the vessel designs, auxiliary systems, crew training and field support network—need to be ready before the fuels become widely available. Our development timeframe, as evidenced by these milestones in research and collaboration, shows that we are on track to give ship owners and operators the time they need to prepare for decarbonized ship power using ammonia as fuel.”
WinGD advances the decarbonization of marine transportation through sustainable energy systems using the most advanced technologies in emissions reduction, fuel efficiency, hybridization and digital optimization. With its two-stroke low-speed engines at the heart of the power equation, WinGD sets the industry standard for reliability, safety, efficiency and environmental design, backed by a global service and support network. Headquartered in Winterthur, Switzerland, since its origin as the Sulzer Diesel Engine business in 1893, today it is powering the transformation to a sustainable future. (Story and image courtesy of WinGD)