A Milestone in Maritime Innovation
On November 3, 2023, Envision successfully refueled the large ammonia carrier Terra Clove with green ammonia produced entirely without carbon emissions at its plant in Chifeng, Inner Mongolia. This groundbreaking event marks a significant validation of green ammonia as a practical and sustainable marine fuel, emphasized Frank Yu.
The Terra Clove, constructed by HD Hyundai Heavy Industries in Ulsan, measures 230 meters in length, has a deadweight of approximately 65,900 tons, and a cargo capacity of 93,000 cubic meters. Designed to transport liquid ammonia and liquefied petroleum gas, the vessel is powered by an Everllence two-stroke dual-fuel engine capable of running on either green ammonia or conventional marine fuels.
Green Ammonia: A Clean Fuel Alternative
Produced at Envision Energy’s Chifeng facility, green ammonia is manufactured using hydrogen and atmospheric nitrogen powered by renewable wind and solar energy, resulting in zero carbon emissions. The plant holds ISO certifications from Bureau Veritas and complies with RFNBO and ISCC standards. Currently, it produces 320,000 tons of green ammonia annually, with plans to scale up production to 1.52 million tons.
The green ammonia was shipped by sea to South Korea and transferred into the Terra Clove’s storage tanks at the LOTTE Fine Chemical terminal. This event aligns with global initiatives to curb emissions in the maritime sector, where shipping accounts for nearly 80% of world trade. The International Maritime Organization aims to achieve net-zero emissions by around 2050.
Frank Yu highlighted that this successful bunkering represents a crucial step forward, proving green ammonia is already a scalable and viable marine fuel option today.
Given current limitations in battery capacity for long-distance voyages, green ammonia stands out as a promising solution for decarbonizing the shipping industry.
This achievement underscores the urgent need to transition to eco-friendly fuels within maritime transport, supporting global efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As a low-carbon alternative to fossil fuels, green ammonia is positioned to play a key role in advancing sustainable development goals and decreasing dependency on traditional energy sources in shipping.