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19th to 21st of May 2026
19th, 20th & 21st
MAY 2026

- CONFIRMED DATES -

SOERMAR defends of ammonia suitability as a maritime sector hydrogen carrier

The possibility of using it as a hydrogen source, producing it through renewable energy sources or its ease of storage and handling on board ships, among others, are the main factors boosting its use as fuel in the maritime sector.

SOERMAR argues ammonia is a very suitable hydrogen vector (carrier) to help replacing fossil fuels in the maritime sector. The reasons were explained by José Antonio Durango, project engineer at this entity, during his participation in the event 'Encuentro con la Mar' of the Spanish Maritime Cluster, held at the Naval Engineering Vocational School (ETSIN) of the Polytechnic University of Madrid and focused on 'Hydrogen as a marine fuel'.

José Antonio Durango's presentation revolved around the advantages of ammonia as a hydrogen vector within maritime sector. He pointed out that it allows hydrogen to be transported easily and at a lower cost, it is less flammable and safer for some applications and, if used in combustion engines, it would not generate CO2 or emissions of sulphur and solid particles. “Ammonia is the most energy-dense fuel free of CO2, and its application in many environments is totally viable today, such as maritime transport, where, together with methanol, they are the two alternatives currently being considered to replace current fossil-based hydrocarbons in terms of weight and volume,” he commented. He also stressed that “as a green H2 storage facility, ammonia has no posible rival.”

SOERMAR representative also detailed a series of factors boosting the use of ammonia in maritime sector. Among them, it is theoretically more viable for long voyages than hydrogen or batteries, it is easier to store and handle than pure hydrogen on board ships or it can be produced using renewable energy sources. “The International Energy Agency (IEA) in its ‘2050 Carbon Zero Roadmap Report’ estimates ammonia will represent 46% of ship fuel in 2050,” he added.

However, Durango has identified the challenges to face to use it in ships. Such as its toxicity and danger if not handled properly or the need to have adequate storage and handling equipment designed taking safety into account. But also, the incompatibility with some materials, such as copper and zinc alloys and high nickel steels. At the same time, he explained that increasing the production capacity of ammonia at a global level is still quick expensive “in terms of time and economic investment”. He also highlighted there is uncertainty about the availability of technology and regulations.

Apart from that, in the block of interventions, José Fabián Plaza Fernández, founder of the company Advanced Thermal Devices (ATD), has presented the achievements made in the HIDRAM project, in which SOERMAR also participates, from a technological approach in its role as developer of its own technology. This project, which has received funding from CDTI (Centre for Technological Development and Innovation), seeks decarbonisation of maritime transport through hydrogen and ammonia storage solutions through the generation of green ammonia as a multipurpose fuel. Among many other tasks, ATD has developed its own state-of-the-art catalysts for use in ammonia synthesis and dissociation devices and fuel cells. And, recently, solid-state ammonia and hydrogen storage technologies.

HIDRAM project consortium is also made up of two other SMEs, Jalvasub Engineering (JALVASUB) and Ventor Innovations (VENTOR), two medium-sized companies - Astilleros de Mallorca (MALLORCA), project coordinator, and Astilleros Francisco Cardama, S.A (CARDAMA) - and, as subcontracted entities, three research organisations: Institute of Ceramics and Glass (ICV-CSIC), Fluid Physics Laboratory of the Distance Learning University (UNED) and Cidaut Foundation (CIDAUT).