The Project
AEGIR proposes a unique fuel cell and membrane-based system for efficient conversion of green ammonia to electrical energy. In this concept, ammonia is (i) cracked to H2 and N2 using a solid oxide fuel cell; (ii) H2 is extracted and purified using a proton conducting electrochemical membrane; and (iii) converted to electricity using a polymer exchange membrane fuel cell. By combining these three technologies, AEGIR aims at developing an ammonia-fueled ship propulsion system that offers high efficiency in combination with a low total system volume and weight, which is the key innovation of the project. Furthermore, the concept avoids emissions of NOx and allows for a drastic reduction of CO2 emissions; the product of the fuel cell electricity process is water.
The project will design the integrated concept, experimentally validate the three key enabling technologies, demonstrate a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 90% compared to current state in a well-to-propeller analysis, and identify potential scale up issues for a 20 MW maritime system in a concept study.
The industrial partners and Advisory Board members (comprising several international shipping companies) will be able to transfer the project outcome to even higher application levels after end of the project.
DTU Energy and DTU Management are among the six project partners, where DTU Energy takes the coordinator role (Anke Hagen). A joint effort by the Nordic Maritime Transport and Energy Research Programme and the national funding bodies Energy Technology Development and Demonstration Program - EUDP (Denmark), Norwegian Research Council - RCN (Norway), and Business Finland (Finland) are financing 10 M NOK (Norwegian crowns) of the total project budget of 18.7 M NOK.