The UK’s push to decarbonise shipping just got a turbocharge, and it’s not just about wind and waves. A consortium led by Carnot, a UK-based engine tech start-up, has snagged a chunk of the £30 million doled out in the latest round of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC6). The project? A low-emission ammonia marine engine retrofit, backed by heavyweights like MOL (Europe Africa) and a roster of British engineering brains.
This isn’t just another lab experiment. It’s a full-throttle effort to make ammonia a viable, scalable fuel for shipping. Carnot, which MOL invested in last year, is spearheading the charge, but the real magic happens in the consortium. The University of Southampton brings combustion simulators to the table, while Clean Air Power GT tackles the thorny issue of high-flow ammonia injection. Houlder, a design and engineering consultancy, will handle the nitty-gritty of integrating the ammonia auxiliary engine into existing ships. And De Courcy Alexander? They’re the strategists, assessing market potential and plotting the commercialisation roadmap.
MOL (Europe Africa) isn’t just writing cheques. They’re rolling up their sleeves, offering operational insights, fleet management know-how, and strategic guidance on rolling out the tech. This is a rare glimpse of a major charterer diving deep into the R&D trenches, not just as a funder but as a co-developer. It’s a sign that the industry’s decarbonisation push is shifting gears—from vague commitments to concrete, collaborative action.
The UK’s CMDC6 isn’t just throwing money at problems. It’s backing projects that could reshape the maritime energy landscape. Alongside Carnot’s consortium, the competition has funded wind propulsion specialists GT Wings and Anemoi Marine Technologies. But ammonia’s potential to cut emissions without relying on weather conditions makes this project a standout. If Carnot and its partners can crack the code on ammonia retrofits, they could unlock a game-changer for the industry.
The bigger picture? The UK’s £230 million UK SHORE programme is proving that government-backed innovation can drive real change. By backing over 300 organisations, it’s creating a pipeline of clean maritime tech that could position the UK as a global leader. Richard Ballantyne of the British Ports Association nailed it earlier this year: this is what happens when governments and the private sector sync up. The maritime industry is at a crossroads, and projects like this are the map to a lower-emission future.