Winterthur Gas and Diesel (WinGD) will collaborate with the Engine Machinery Division (EMD) of Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) to develop a two-stroke engine that can run using ammonia.
The project is aimed at exploring ammonia concepts for dual-fuel liquefied natural gas (LNG) X-DF engines as well as diesel-fuelled WinGD X-type engines.
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It will include the development of emissions abatement, fuel supply and relevant safety solutions for ammonia engines with a focus on the local market.
WinGD research and development vice-president Dominik Schneiter said: “This project will give WinGD and HHI an important advantage in the development of ammonia-fuelled marine engines.
“It will set the path for a new generation of two-stroke engine technology applicable to a wide range of cargo vessels in the coming decades.”
On 7 June, the companies signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) during the Posidonia exhibition.
As part of this MoU, the companies aim to deliver a first engine by 2025. This is in line with the timeframe that WinGD had previously announced for bringing an ammonia engine to market.
WinGD noted that ammonia-fuelled engines will join its solutions ecosystem, which is designed to help owners and operators of ships decarbonise their vessels.
The company’s offerings, including digital optimisation systems and hybrid power system integration, aim to reduce fuel costs and provide operational flexibility.
EMD chief operating officer and president Kwang-Hean An said: “There is strong market demand for commercialised ammonia-powered vessels in the near future.
“This collaboration with WinGD will ensure that EMD is ready to support that demand with the required engine technologies.”
Last August, WinGD received a contract to deliver hybrid energy systems on four newbuild pure car and truck carriers (PCTC).
