SOERMAR and ASTICAN are promoting an Innovative Green electricity solution based on solid ammonia
The project, which also involves specialized technology companies ATD and JALVASUB, focuses on supplying energy to industrial and port facilities and aligns with initiatives promoted by the European Commission to transform ports into sustainable energy hubs.
SOERMAR and Astilleros Canarios, S.A. (ASTICAN) have launched the development of an innovative solution for supplying green electricity to industrial and port facilities. This project also includes the participation of specialized technology companies such as ATD and JALVASUB, reinforcing the multidisciplinary and advanced nature of the initiative.
The solution is based on the use of solid ammonia as an energy carrier, a novel and emerging technology allowing safe and efficient storage and transport of energy, as well as its subsequent conversion into emission-free electricity. This approach not only contributes to the port and industrial environment decarbonization but can also be considered a strategic reserve of electrical energy, providing resilience and security to the energy system and reinforcing national strategic autonomy.
In a context where the energy transition and emissions reduction have become key priorities at the European and international levels, this project aligns with maritime transport decarbonization policies and with the initiatives promoted by the European Commission to transform ports into sustainable energy hubs, as outlined in the recently published maritime, industrial, and port strategy.
Currently, many ports already have favourable conditions for the supply of alternative fuels such as renewable ammonia or methanol. However, the development of proprietary technologies, such as solid ammonia, and the implementation of pilot projects that validate their industrial viability are essential to guarantee competitiveness and strategic energy autonomy in the medium and long term.
The project, led by SOERMAR and ASTICAN, will address, among other aspects, the technical analysis of the electricity generation process using solid ammonia, as well as the research of the systems and subsystems necessary for its implementation, including ammonia dissociation and fuel cell operation. It will also evaluate different hydrogen storage technologies—both solid and organic liquid—and analyse the regulatory and certification requirements necessary to ensure the safe use of this technology. The project will also include a refuelling methods analysis for the solid ammonia carrier system, a key element for its operational viability.
This initiative will enable the development of pre-commercial projects for the supply of electricity based on solid ammonia, positioning ASTICAN and its partners at the international forefront of technological innovation in the naval and energy sectors.
In addition to its technological impact, the project will contribute to improving the competitiveness of shipbuilding industry and maritime sector, offering new energy solutions to shipowners and port operators that allow them to reduce their environmental footprint without compromising operational efficiency or economic viability.
With this collaboration, ASTICAN, SOERMAR, ATD, and JALVASUB reinforce their commitment to innovation, sustainability, and the development of key technologies to advance toward a cleaner, more competitive, and more resilient energy model.