Techcross, the global No.1 company in ballast water management system (BWMS), and HD Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world’s No.1 shipbuilding and engine manufacturer, signed an agreement on July 10 to jointly develop ammonia treatment technology.
As the International Maritime Organization (IMO) implements various policies aimed at achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, the demand for ammonia-fueled ships is rapidly increasing. Ammonia is recognized as a promising eco-friendly fuel due to its cost-effectiveness and safety benefits. However, its high toxicity poses significant risks to marine ecosystems in the event of leakage, making the development of safe treatment technologies essential. The primary goal of this agreement is to develop ammonia electrolysis treatment technology, and a recovery technology for purged ammonia gas, leveraging Techcross’s core electrolysis technology.
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is responsible for technical support, while Techros is responsible for technical research and verification. The two parties plan to complete the technical development by the end of next year and explore onboard solutions based on the subsequent results.
This collaboration is of great significance as it is expected to remove the core barrier that hinders the popularization of ammonia-fueled ships by mastering the safe handling technology of highly toxic ammonia. As environmental regulations are strengthened, this is expected to lay the foundation for the expansion of the ammonia-fueled ship market.
Electrolysis treatment technology refers to a method of safely decomposing and treating contaminated water produced by ammonia fuel ships through electrochemical means, and is considered a core technology for proactively responding to environmental regulations. Exhaust gas recovery technology aims to improve fuel efficiency and minimize ammonia emissions by effectively recovering residual ammonia gas emitted from the fuel system.
Currently, there are no established regulations regarding the discharge of ammonia water from ammonia-fueled ships. Nevertheless, with increasing environmental regulations anticipated, developing such technologies has become critical for securing competitiveness in the global market. A Techcross representative said, “We hope this agreement will be a good opportunity for both companies to lead the future eco-friendly energy market through the successful development of ammonia treatment technologies”.
In addition to its industry-leading BWMS, Techcross is developing other eco-friendly marine solutions such as VRCS and ESD, while expanding into the green hydrogen electrolysis industry based on its core electrolysis technology, striving to become a comprehensive environmental company.