DNV approves BW Offshore and SwitcH2's floating ammonia production unit concept

Netherland-based SwitcH2 and Norway-based BW Offshore has received an approval in principle (AiP) from classification society DNV to develop an industrial-scale floating green ammonia production unit, confirming the technical feasibility of the design.

PHOTO: Model of the ammonia production unit concept. DNV

“The AiP covers all aspects of the integrated vessel concept including structural integrity, mooring, ammonia production, ammonia storage and cargo handling”, DNV vice president Conn Fagan said.

The unit will be built by retrofitting an existing VLCC into a floating, production, storage and offloading unit, or be built as a newbuild vessel. It will produce green ammonia for exports to global markets.

The unit will source electricity from a wind farm or other renewable sources to produce hydrogen, which will then be combined with nitrogen through the Haber-Bosch process to yield liquid ammonia. This ammonia will then be kept in the hull of the vessel and later shifted to an ammonia carrier.

By Debarati Bhattacharjee

Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online