The mobility of the future is moving further and further away from the zero-emission fuels we have reviewed on several occasions, such as EVs. The latest to fall out of favor is the hydrogen engine, which Japan wanted to use as a weapon to dominate the automotive industry worldwide. A legendary manufacturer has just found a fuel that seems to be definitive and has already created the first prototype. It is known as the “Viking Engine,”, and when you get to know it, you will understand that it is not a metaphor.
The first “Viking Engine”, to revolutionize global mobility: It all comes from Norway
Certain companies, such as Equinor from Norway, are trending in the maritime industry after developing the Viking Energy supply vessel project, which is aimed at transforming the vessel to use ammonia. This makes the initiative stand out as a key development in the search for a cleaner maritime solution and places Equinor among the leading companies in the strive for green maritime technology.
Viking Energy has a long record in maritime propulsion development. When it was initially launched in 2003, it was used as the largest LNG-fueled supply vessel in the entire world. In 2016, it became the first vessel to be granted DNV’s “Battery Power” notation after retrofitting the vessel with a hybrid power solution.
Now, it is all ready to create history in the world as the first ammonia-based supply vessel. This revolutionary project has its focus on the ammonia-burning engine that will be provided by Wärtsilä. The model selected for the purpose of the conversion undertaken on this vessel is the Wärtsilä W25 dual-fuel engine, which can run on ammonia as well as marine gas oil (MGO).
Is hydrogen the future of maritime mobility? Perhaps, but Norway is thinking of something different
Key features of the ammonia engine include:
- Dual-fuel capability: The efficient fuels with which the generator is designed to operate with include ammonia and MGO which makes the generator versatile and reliable.
- Low-emission technology: The engine is built in a way to provide lower emissions of greenhouse gases than the conventional marine engines.
- Compatibility with existing systems: The engine can be installed into Viking Energy’s existing propulsion arrangement without significant and complicated changes.
While specific performance data for the ammonia engine on the Viking Energy is not yet available, Equinor has provided some impressive targets:
- Emission reduction: The switch to ammonia is believed to reduce the pollution output from the Viking Energy by at least 70 percent when compared to the existing LNG and MGO based operations.
- Operational range: The vessel is expected to run on ammonia for as many as 3,000 operating hours per year; therefore, the adequacy of ammonia as long-range fuel has been proven.
- Power output: The ammonia fuel system will directly supply 2 MW of the solid oxide fuel cells that will allow high-power sailing capabilities.
Equinor is clear about their future plans: They have huge opportunities to decarbonize the seas
Equinor’s ammonia engine project is not just a one-off experiment, but part of a broader strategy to reduce maritime emissions:
- Timeline: The Viking Energy is expected to be fully switched to low-emission and fully functional by mid-2026.
- Scaling up: Equinor has recently begun expressions of interest in the market for more supply vessels that are capable of operating on ammonia.
- Regulatory alignment: It corresponds to the announced requirements of the Norwegian government in terms of low-emission solutions from 2025 and zero emissions in new supply vessels from 2029.
- Industry collaboration: Commercialization of the project has been achieved through collaboration with Eidesvik Offshore, Wärtsilä, supported by the EU Horizon Europe program.
This new Equinor ammonia engine could be the salvation of combustion engines, whose renewable version has so far only depended on hydrogen. It is expected to be much more than an alternative fuel and, together with methanol (or ethanol, not to be confused), will be able to decarbonize global maritime mobility, minimizing emissions in the transport of goods, another of mankind’s great objectives. Do you now understand why it is known as the Viking engine?
