Fraunhofer IMM Develops System Solution for Ammonia-Powered Engines in Inland Waterway Shipping
AmHyPower project integrates ammonia storage, cracking and propulsion to enable safe and efficient use of renewable ammonia on board ships
Fraunhofer Institute for Microtechnology and Microsystems IMM is developing an integrated system solution for using renewable ammonia as a fuel for inland waterway vessels through the AmHyPower collaborative project, funded by Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy.
The project addresses the challenge of using ammonia as a practical maritime fuel by considering the complete energy chain, from onboard storage and fuel processing to engine operation, control systems and safety. Fraunhofer IMM is developing an ammonia cracker designed to supply hydrogen or hydrogen-rich synthesis gas to a gas engine with an output of 200 kW.
Renewably produced ammonia is attracting interest as an energy carrier because it contains no carbon and can therefore avoid direct carbon emissions during use. However, its deployment introduces challenges related to safe storage, fuel processing and integration into propulsion systems.
AmHyPower is addressing these challenges through an integrated approach that combines the propulsion system with the development of a lightweight, space-efficient ammonia storage solution. The objective is to make more effective use of limited installation space aboard inland waterway vessels while increasing their onboard fuel storage capacity.
As part of the project, Fraunhofer IGP and other partners are developing a lightweight, free-form tank made from fiber-reinforced composites. The work includes assessing the resistance of materials and adhesive connections to ammonia as well as ensuring the structural safety of the storage system.
The project brings together fuel storage, ammonia processing, the engine, control technology and safety considerations as interconnected elements rather than treating them as separate components. This approach is intended to provide a better understanding of how ammonia propulsion systems can be designed and integrated into maritime applications.
The findings could also support future development in other transport sectors. Individual technologies and system solutions developed through AmHyPower could potentially be adapted for deep-sea shipping, commercial vehicles and rail applications where reducing emissions through direct electrification can be challenging.
Fraunhofer IMM will present the technology at SMM 2026 in Hamburg from September 1 to 4, where the institute will demonstrate different approaches to using ammonia as an energy carrier for maritime and other hard-to-electrify applications.
The institute will also showcase work from the EU-funded GAMMA project, which is investigating the conversion of ammonia and green methanol into hydrogen aboard a cargo ship, as well as its collaboration with First Ammonia Motors on ammonia-powered internal combustion engines in which the hydrogen required for combustion is produced directly onboard.
The AmHyPower project brings together Neptun Ship Design GmbH, BaltiCo GmbH, NORIS Automation GmbH, ScanDiesel GmbH and Technologie und AnlagenBau (TAB), alongside Fraunhofer IMM and Fraunhofer IGP, to develop the integrated technologies required for ammonia-powered inland waterway shipping.
