Full-Scale Ammonia Engine Opens New Chapter

MAN Energy Solutions has made a big leap in developing its dual-fuel ME-LGIA engine by testing a full-size two-stroke engine that runs on ammonia. The testing is happening at the company’s Research Centre in Copenhagen (RCC), marking a key step toward creating engines that can use both traditional fuels and ammonia, a cleaner alternative.

Moving to Full-Scale Testing

After more than a year of testing a smaller, single-cylinder engine running on ammonia, the team is now focused on a full-size engine. Ole Pyndt Hansen, who leads the Two-Stroke R&D team at MAN Energy Solutions, shared the importance of this milestone. “It’s a big achievement to move from testing a single cylinder to testing the entire engine. Over the past few months, we’ve worked hard to make sure the conversion process is safe and meets all our requirements,” Hansen said.

The team will now focus on key areas like how the engine burns fuel, how much pollution it produces, how well the engine is tuned, and how its control system works. They’ll also test the atomizer, a device that sprays fuel into the engine. This phase of testing is expected to continue until the middle of 2025.

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Leading the Way with Caution

Bjarne Foldager, who leads the Two-Stroke Business at MAN Energy Solutions, explained how important this development is for the industry. “The market is eager to hear news about our ME-LGIA engine. Starting full-scale tests on the world’s first two-stroke ammonia engine is a major step forward,” Foldager said.

However, Foldager emphasized that safety is just as important as innovation. “We are proud to be leaders in developing ammonia-powered engines, but we also need to move forward carefully. Safety comes first,” he added.

Why Ammonia?

Ammonia is being explored as a cleaner fuel option because it doesn’t release carbon dioxide when burned, unlike traditional marine fuels. This makes it a promising choice for the shipping industry, which is under pressure to reduce emissions and meet global climate goals. MAN Energy Solutions is pioneering this new technology, which could help ships operate more sustainably in the future.

What’s Next?

As the testing progresses, MAN Energy Solutions will continue to refine the engine’s performance. Updates will be shared with the public as they become available. The company’s work is part of a broader effort to create greener shipping solutions and reduce the industry’s environmental impact.