University of St Andrews School of Chemistry & ZEM Fuel Systems Ltd

Winner: 2023 Industry-Academia Collaboration Prize

For the development and commercialisation of a disruptive zero emission energy technology, direct ammonia fuel cells, to decarbonise the maritime industry.

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Ammonia will play a critical role to decarbonise the maritime industry.

The collaboration has developed zero emissions technology – direct ammonia fuel cells – to replace diesel engines in the shipping sector and make a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of the maritime industry. They have created a multidisciplinary team that stimulates creativity, boosts productivity, and sparks innovations.

The team

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Dr Berceste Beyribey Price, Senior Technology & Commercial Officer, ZEM Fuel Systems Ltd
Dr Paul Connor, Senior Research and Teaching Fellow, University of St Andrews
Professor John Irvine, CEO/CTO and Professor, ZEM Fuel Systems Ltd./University of St Andrews
Dr Sneh Jain, COO, ZEM Fuel Systems Ltd
Dr Kamil Nowicki, Research Fellow, University of St Andrews

Q&A

What were the biggest challenges in this project?

The safe use of ammonia as fuel on vessels.

What different strengths did different people bring to the team?

In this project, the researchers in the university focused on developing a highly efficient technology with long durability while the engineers in the ZEM Fuel Systems focused on scaling up the technology and the safe use of ammonia as fuel.

Why is this work so important?

As shipping is responsible for 3% global CO₂ emissions, we need a change from fossil fuel driven marine transport to a renewable one. To do so, we need a green fuel to replace marine diesel oil, especially for long distance shipping. Ammonia is a zero carbon, low cost fuel and easy to transport and store. It has higher energy density compared to hydrogen and existing infrastructure. Although hydrocarbon fuels store more energy due to the greater efficiency of ammonia powered fuel cells, direct ammonia solid oxide fuel cells have a similar overall performance to liquid propane gas (LPG) powered internal combustion engines.

How do you see this work developing over the next few years, and what is next for this technology/research?

Ammonia will play a critical role to decarbonise the maritime industry. The next steps for our technology are to demonstrate the technology on vessels and the safe use of ammonia as fuel in our project funded by the Department for Transport under the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 3.

What is the importance of collaboration in the chemical sciences?

To speed up implementation of innovative technologies, multidisciplinary industry-academia collaboration is the key.