Periodic Reporting for period 1 - GAMMA (Green Ammonia and Biomethanol fuel MAritime Vessels)
Période du rapport: 2024-01-01 au 2025-06-30
Today, long-distance maritime transport supports 80–90% of all global trade. As such, the sector holds significant potential for climate-beneficial transformation through the adoption of green fuels. In response to this, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set an ambitious target for the maritime industry to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to around net-zero by 2050.
The GAMMA project—Green Ammonia and Biomethanol fuel MAritime Vessels—brings together companies and researchers from across Europe to develop and retrofit a bulk carrier to operate on climate-neutral fuels and green power. The project aims to demonstrate a scalable, replicable pathway for decarbonizing maritime transport through the safe integration of green fuels and advanced energy systems.
At the heart of GAMMA is the development, integration, and demonstration of a modular, containerized alternative fuel energy system designed for maritime retrofit applications. The project will retrofit one of ANT TOPIC’s Ultramax vessels with a system that enables the use of biomethanol and green ammonia—two promising and accessible renewable fuels—as hydrogen carriers.
These fuels will be bunkered onboard and converted into hydrogen using ammonia cracker and methanol reformer technologies. The hydrogen will then be purified to >99.9% and used to generate electricity via a 1 MW low-temperature PEM fuel cell, replacing fossil-fuel-powered auxiliary generators. Additionally, PV panels installed on the vessel’s hatch covers will supply part of the energy required for hydrogen conversion, further reducing the vessel’s carbon footprint.
GAMMA will be the first-ever demonstration of a low-temperature PEM fuel cell system operating on sustainable fuels at this scale in a marine environment. This includes validating the performance of steam methanol reforming and ammonia cracking technologies in real-world conditions.
By demonstrating a viable retrofit solution, GAMMA aims to provide the maritime sector with a replicable strategy for integrating new fuels and conversion technologies into existing fleets.
Key demonstration outcomes include:
• Safe and autonomous operation of auxiliary engines powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
• Safe bunkering of biomethanol and green ammonia in interested ports.
• Comprehensive data collection on fuel system performance and environmental impact.
• A well-to-wake analysis demonstrating at least a 30% reduction in GHG emissions.
The project’s scale and ambition are significant: with a €13 million grant from the EC Horizon Europe framework programme for innovation, GAMMA will run over five years (until end of 2028) and is delivered by a consortium of 16 partners from 9 countries.
GAMMA sets the stage for a transformative shift in maritime energy systems. By proving the technical, operational, and environmental viability of green ammonia and biomethanol as marine fuels, the project will pave the way for large-scale adoption of zero-emission technologies in commercial shipping. Its impact is expected to extend beyond the demonstration vessel, offering a blueprint for retrofitting fleets across the global maritime industry.
The GAMMA project—Green Ammonia and Biomethanol fuel MAritime Vessels—brings together companies and researchers from across Europe to develop and retrofit a bulk carrier to operate on climate-neutral fuels and green power. The project aims to demonstrate a scalable, replicable pathway for decarbonizing maritime transport through the safe integration of green fuels and advanced energy systems.
At the heart of GAMMA is the development, integration, and demonstration of a modular, containerized alternative fuel energy system designed for maritime retrofit applications. The project will retrofit one of ANT TOPIC’s Ultramax vessels with a system that enables the use of biomethanol and green ammonia—two promising and accessible renewable fuels—as hydrogen carriers.
These fuels will be bunkered onboard and converted into hydrogen using ammonia cracker and methanol reformer technologies. The hydrogen will then be purified to >99.9% and used to generate electricity via a 1 MW low-temperature PEM fuel cell, replacing fossil-fuel-powered auxiliary generators. Additionally, PV panels installed on the vessel’s hatch covers will supply part of the energy required for hydrogen conversion, further reducing the vessel’s carbon footprint.
GAMMA will be the first-ever demonstration of a low-temperature PEM fuel cell system operating on sustainable fuels at this scale in a marine environment. This includes validating the performance of steam methanol reforming and ammonia cracking technologies in real-world conditions.
By demonstrating a viable retrofit solution, GAMMA aims to provide the maritime sector with a replicable strategy for integrating new fuels and conversion technologies into existing fleets.
Key demonstration outcomes include:
• Safe and autonomous operation of auxiliary engines powered by hydrogen fuel cells.
• Safe bunkering of biomethanol and green ammonia in interested ports.
• Comprehensive data collection on fuel system performance and environmental impact.
• A well-to-wake analysis demonstrating at least a 30% reduction in GHG emissions.
The project’s scale and ambition are significant: with a €13 million grant from the EC Horizon Europe framework programme for innovation, GAMMA will run over five years (until end of 2028) and is delivered by a consortium of 16 partners from 9 countries.
GAMMA sets the stage for a transformative shift in maritime energy systems. By proving the technical, operational, and environmental viability of green ammonia and biomethanol as marine fuels, the project will pave the way for large-scale adoption of zero-emission technologies in commercial shipping. Its impact is expected to extend beyond the demonstration vessel, offering a blueprint for retrofitting fleets across the global maritime industry.
The first 18 months of the project have mainly been focused on
• System design, fuel system and Subsystem development (WP1, WP3, WP4)
o Design of fuel distribution system
o Retrofit strategy
o Design of Methanol reformer
o Design of ammonia cracker
o Design of PSA hydrogen purification
• Safety Management (WP2)
• Design of Electrical integration of new systems (WP5)
o Electrical architecture definition
o PV system integration design
o Monitoring and control system design
• Cross cutting activities, communication and other supporting activities (WP7, WP8, WP9)
• System design, fuel system and Subsystem development (WP1, WP3, WP4)
o Design of fuel distribution system
o Retrofit strategy
o Design of Methanol reformer
o Design of ammonia cracker
o Design of PSA hydrogen purification
• Safety Management (WP2)
• Design of Electrical integration of new systems (WP5)
o Electrical architecture definition
o PV system integration design
o Monitoring and control system design
• Cross cutting activities, communication and other supporting activities (WP7, WP8, WP9)
CTE/Nedstack fuel cells
• Fully-marinized 1MW power block
• Ruggedized and safe design for the maritime
application (IP44).
• Successful system integration with NH3
cracker and biomethanol reformer,
respectively.
• 50% hydrogen fuel efficiency across fuel cell
• 90% fuel cell system availability
• Lifetime duration: 15 years
Fraunhofer IMM – MeOH reformer
• Novel, patented methanol steam reforming catalyst
• Micro channel technology allows for an extremely compact design.
• Scale-up to 200kWe per module
• High purity (utilisation of the off gas of the PSA units) on the burner side of Heat exchanger
• Highly compact (containerised solution) reactor for methanol steam reforming with 90% size reduction (compared to conventional fixed-bed technology) in a system with thermal efficiency higher than 90%.
• Container-based demonstration methanol steam reforming system for hydrogen supply
Fraunhofer IMM – NH3 Cracker
• Novel, patented cracking technology using cutting-edge knowledge in NH3 decomposition catalyst science and reactor and chemical process intensification.
• Integration with cutting-edge hydrogen purification technology (PSA) container-based NH3 decomposition system for hydrogen supply.
• Beyond-state of the art PSA Pressure Adsorption Swing (PSA)
o Purity of H2 after PSA of 99,8%
o Operating temperature of 650°C
o NH3 conversion up to 99.8% at a thermal efficiency of up to 90%
• Synthesis of high-activity Pt/In2O3/Al2O3 catalyst for NH3 decomposition showing a high hydrogen production rate.
• 90% size-reduction for a limited footprint on the deck
• Obtention of a mix (75% / 25%) of H2 / N2.
• Scalability to the 1MW.
• Reliable and safe operation of an NH3 decomposition system in a marine transport unit.
• Scalability of modular NH3 decomposition technology in capacities above 200 kWe
• Achievement of environmental and safety standards for NH3 handling and decomposition reactor operation.
• Fully-marinized 1MW power block
• Ruggedized and safe design for the maritime
application (IP44).
• Successful system integration with NH3
cracker and biomethanol reformer,
respectively.
• 50% hydrogen fuel efficiency across fuel cell
• 90% fuel cell system availability
• Lifetime duration: 15 years
Fraunhofer IMM – MeOH reformer
• Novel, patented methanol steam reforming catalyst
• Micro channel technology allows for an extremely compact design.
• Scale-up to 200kWe per module
• High purity (utilisation of the off gas of the PSA units) on the burner side of Heat exchanger
• Highly compact (containerised solution) reactor for methanol steam reforming with 90% size reduction (compared to conventional fixed-bed technology) in a system with thermal efficiency higher than 90%.
• Container-based demonstration methanol steam reforming system for hydrogen supply
Fraunhofer IMM – NH3 Cracker
• Novel, patented cracking technology using cutting-edge knowledge in NH3 decomposition catalyst science and reactor and chemical process intensification.
• Integration with cutting-edge hydrogen purification technology (PSA) container-based NH3 decomposition system for hydrogen supply.
• Beyond-state of the art PSA Pressure Adsorption Swing (PSA)
o Purity of H2 after PSA of 99,8%
o Operating temperature of 650°C
o NH3 conversion up to 99.8% at a thermal efficiency of up to 90%
• Synthesis of high-activity Pt/In2O3/Al2O3 catalyst for NH3 decomposition showing a high hydrogen production rate.
• 90% size-reduction for a limited footprint on the deck
• Obtention of a mix (75% / 25%) of H2 / N2.
• Scalability to the 1MW.
• Reliable and safe operation of an NH3 decomposition system in a marine transport unit.
• Scalability of modular NH3 decomposition technology in capacities above 200 kWe
• Achievement of environmental and safety standards for NH3 handling and decomposition reactor operation.