Japan Engine Corporation (J-ENG) has announced significant progress in the race to develop the world’s first ammonia-fueled commercial shipping engine, with plans to ship its engine by October for installation in a gas carrier. The move puts J-ENG on track to compete with other major manufacturers such as MAN and WinGD, who are also in the final stages of certification for their ammonia-powered engines.
The company revealed that it recently launched the world’s first Japanese-developed, large, low-speed, two-stroke engine designed for ammonia fuel. This milestone follows a successful test operation in May 2023 when J-ENG became the first to initiate ammonia co-firing in a large, low-speed, two-stroke engine. The new engine, boasting a 50 cm cylinder bore, marks a key step toward the development of ammonia-based propulsion systems for commercial vessels.
The project is part of Japan’s “Green Innovation Fund Project: Next-generation Ship Development” overseen by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO). Over the past year and a half, J-ENG has successfully operated the test engine at high ammonia co-firing rates, gaining valuable insights into both stable operation and the safe handling of ammonia as a fuel source.
Looking ahead, J-ENG will conduct further verification tests on the full-scale engine before it is shipped in October, where it will be installed in an Ammonia-Fueled Medium Gas Carrier (AFMGC) for demonstration. In parallel, the company is developing a 60 cm cylinder bore engine for future projects in the ammonia-fueled market.
In its bid to lead the transition to next-generation fuel engines, J-ENG also announced plans to build a new plant to scale up production of ammonia-fueled engines. Supported by a subsidy from the Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism through the GX Economic Transition Bonds, the facility is scheduled for completion in 2028. It will focus on increasing the production of ammonia engines while also promoting the adoption of zero-emission ships.
As ammonia-powered vessels begin their first demonstrations in 2024, Japanese shipping company NYK is at the forefront with a converted tugboat that previously ran on LNG but has been retrofitted with an ammonia-fueled engine. Meanwhile, DNV has reported that 33 ammonia-fueled vessels are currently on order and are expected to be delivered by the end of the decade, signaling a growing commitment to greener shipping solutions.