Two words and two worlds that have been dominating globally are hydrogen and electricity. Which has not been a bad concept, because in a world that is looking into grasping cleaner fuels, those two have been the talk of the town and have worked. However, some companies and countries, such as Denmark, have been exploring more than just hydrogen or electricity. Some have assured that the future is hydrogen, and some beg to differ. What if I told you that there is something else, something that could potentially be the future of clean fuels and energy, something totally different from hydrogen or electricity?
A fuel resource that has been right in our faces this whole time, but it’s not hydrogen
It is funny how the things we use daily and consume can contribute to clean fuel resources for the mobility of a vehicle. For years, we have been using this; farmers and the agricultural setup have used it to grow their crops, and today, countries like Denmark are considering it to be used as a fuel. It is the simplest of things that can change an entire narrative about clean resources.
Another thing: this is not another power invention from China, Japan, or the United States, but Denmark. It shows that many countries are understanding the importance of sustainability and utilising what they have through creativity to come up with useful resources for the functioning of their vehicles. While car brands like Porsche are blowing up the electric vehicle race, this one is taking a different direction.
Ammonia, a fuel that no one anticipated would return, is preferred over all other fuels in Denmark
The “NH3 Spark – FutureFlex” project, supported by the Danish government, is to create a novel small-bore dual-fuel engine design that runs on pure ammonia and eliminates the need for pilot fuel. This fuel does not need the help of hydrogen or electricity, just pure ammonia. There have been other ammonia engines before, but this one is different because of the following:
- It is independent and does not need the support of diesel or hydrogen, like other ammonia fuels that we know of.
- When burnt, it is completely clean. There is no need to worry about carbon emissions.
- It is not meant for cars or transportation only, but also for gensets.
Who is leading this project?
It is being led by a company called MAN Energy Solutions alongside some of Denmark’s fuel experts and from what they have expressed, this never-seen-before fuel promises to deliver the world’s first four-stroke ammonia engine that does not rely on anything or any other sources like hydrogen, electricity and other commonly known fuel sources, even sunlight.
NH3 Spark project manager, Jarl Klüssmann, expressed that this project is coming to fruition because of like-minded people who came together and made this happen. You know what they say? “Great minds think alike.” It is exciting to see researchers come together for the greater good. While profits and revenues are part of the driving factor, a clean environment is a priority too, and even Porsche is moving in surprising fuel directions.
Why ammonia and why now? Here is the thing, and I mentioned it before: this resource has been in our faces for centuries now, and no one ever knew or thought it could be used for a car. Think about it. It has been utilised in refrigeration, agriculture, and even as fuel during war back in the day, but never considered something to delve into until now in the 21st century. It has been regarded as dangerous and unclean; then why are we trying it again? Because it is cleaner than substances such as hydrogen – hard to believe, but it is true. Even China recently unveiled a new ammonia-powered engine.
