New Energies, new possibilities

World's First Test Operation of Large-bore Low-Speed Ammonia dual fuel engine and Ammonia Fuel Supply System Commercial Unit Starts

MITSUI E&S Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chuo-ku, Tokyo; President and CEO: Takeyuki Takahashi; hereinafter "MITSUI E&S") announces that on 10th February 2025，the test operation of the MITSUI-MAN B&W 7S60ME-C10.5-LGIA-HPSCR Large-bore Low-Speed Ammonia dual fuel engine (Maximum continuous output: 17,430 kW (23,700 BHP) x 105 min-1 (7 cyl., L1 point)) started at its Tamano Factory.
In the field of international shipping, the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships is becoming a pressing issue, and the development of ammonia-fueled engines, which enables the reduction of CO2 emissions to zero, is a major step towards the realization of a decarbonized society.

The project builds on groundbreaking R&D work by our licensor, MAN Energy Solutions (MAN ES), that has taken a market-leading position by running both single-cylinder and full-engine ammonia-fueled tests at its Copenhagen-based two-stroke research center. And, the prototype test at Tamano is the world's first test run with an ammonia fuel on a large-bore, low-speed, two-stroke commercial engine.
In addition, the development of peripheral equipment other than engine is being carried out with the support of the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) as a part of "Integrated project for development and social implementation of ammonia fueled ships", and during this test run, the verification of the safety and performance of the ammonia fuel supply system and other peripheral systems developed by MITSUI E&S will also be carried out. The engine and fuel supply system will be delivered to the above project vessel.

As a leading company in marine propulsion systems, MITSUI E&S has set "the realization of a decarbonized society" as one of its material issues related to solutions to social issues. MITSUI E&S is committed to contributing to the realization of a sustainable carbon-neutral society in the field of maritime logistics, by providing systems including Ammonia dual fuel engine and peripheral equipment.

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Photo 1: MITSUI-MAN B&W 7S60ME-C10.5-LGIA-HPSCR Ammonia dual fuel engine

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Photo 2: Ammonia Fuel Supply System (onshore)
Contact details for this Press Release:
MITSUI E&S Co., Ltd. Internal Control Sect. Corporate Planning Dept.
TEL　+81-3-3544-3147

Quest One (formerly H-TEC Systems) says 'entire industry' is suffering the economic effects — and that it is no exception

German PEM electrolyser maker Quest One — known as H-Tec Systems until last August — is set to reduce its workforce by around 120 jobs due to “an overall tense economic situation” resulting from a slower-than-expected ramp-up of the green hydrogen industry.

The Augsburg-based company — which operates a 5GW factory in Hamburg — is saying that its “program to strengthen the company’s competitiveness... “will focus on significant cost reductions... [that will] align internal capacities with the current market situation”.

“The market environment will remain challenging for the foreseeable future,” said CEO Michael Meister, who only began his role on 1 February.“So far, the growth of the global hydrogen economy has lagged well behind the industry’s expectations and the planned steps of the German and European hydrogen strategies. The entire industry cannot escape the resulting economic effects, and Quest One is no exception. We have to act and to take difficult decisions.”

Other European electrolyser makers are also struggling. Norway’s Nel has temporarily paused production at its 1GW electrolyser factor, while French OEM Elogen has halted construction on its own gigafactory in France.

“With the program, we are actively strengthening Quest One's ability to react to fluctuations in the market. We are convinced of the success of the hydrogen economy and electrolysis industry. There is no getting around green hydrogen for the decarbonization of industry.”
The reduction of about 120 jobs is part of an optimisation process to increase efficiency within the company, and will affect staff at its Augsburg headquarters and Hamburg factory, which was opened by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz last September.

“This job reduction should be carried our without redundancies, if possible,” the company stated.

“The program will create the framework conditions for greater customer proximity, stronger competitiveness and more profitable growth. The company simplifies procedures, structures and processes. Quest One expects savings in the low to mid double-digit million range.”

Chief financial officer Markus Weber added: “Through the resulting focus, Quest One will emerge stronger and better equipped to face the challenges of the market.”
German electrolyser maker to cut 120 staff due to slower-than-expected growth of green hydrogen sector | Hydrogen Insight

German electrolyser manufacturer Thyssenkrupp Nucera has reported a 95% drop in new orders for its green hydrogen business year-on-year in the first quarter of its 2024-25 fiscal year.

The company secured just €5m ($5.21m) of new alkaline electrolyser orders for H2 projects in the quarter (which runs from September to the end of December), compared to the €109m it booked in the same period the previous year.
“The market-specific high volatility in the project business and project delays influenced this development,” the firm noted in a press release.
However, sales under existing orders grew by 30% to €154m as Thyssenkrupp Nucera delivered on those such as the 700MW booked by green steel start-up Stegra for its flagship project in Boden, Sweden, which has scheduled the start of steel production using hydrogen-based direct reduced iron for 2026.

The electrolyser manufacturer noted that €100m of the Q1 2024 order intake had been for Stegra’s project.

The orderbook had also previously been bolstered by the 2.2GW Neom green hydrogen and ammonia complex in Saudi Arabia, which is more than halfway through construction.

“The challenges in the market for green hydrogen remain very high. But the need to implement the decarbonisation strategies of industry also continues. The growth prospects for this market therefore remain intact,” said Werner Ponikwar, Thyssenkrupp Nucera’s CEO.

The electrolyser maker’s earnings before interest and tax for its green hydrogen business remained negative, although the loss halved from €16m in Q1 2024 to €8m in the past quarter.The firm also sells electrolysis equipment for the chlor-alkali process to produce caustic soda, a more profitable business which dragged the overall pre-tax earnings to €8m.

The company continues to forecast between €450m and €550m in sales and earnings before interest and taxes in the “negative mid-double-digit million euro range” for green hydrogen projects in the full fiscal year.

Thyssenkrupp Nucera continues to develop solid-oxide electrolysers alongside its current alkaline offering, with €7m of research and development spend in the past quarter.

The firm had in January seen both its chief financial officer and its chief technology officer step down, to retire and for non-disclosed personal reasons respectively.

Thyssenkrupp Nucera electrolyser orders crash by 95% amid green hydrogen market headwinds | Hydrogen Insight

NEPTUNE V is the company’s full-scope 5 MW containerised green hydrogen plant, which utilises ITM’s leading and proven TRIDENT stack technology. It provides reliable, flexible, and highly efficient hydrogen production capacity and the industry's smallest footprint per MW.

The NEPTUNE V units will be deployed into the first phase of Norway's Hydrogen Hub Agder project, 100% owned by Greenstat, a subsidiary of FDE, developing green energy production projects in Norway. The 20 MW green hydrogen hub facility will be dedicated to supplying the maritime industry, and production is expected to start in late 2026. The second phase is expected to be an additional 40 MW, which is planned to be launched in 2027.

Dennis Schulz, CEO of ITM, said: “The Nordic countries present an exciting opportunity for green hydrogen, and it is a privilege that FDE has selected us for the Agder Hydrogen Hub in Norway.”

Antoine Forcinal, CEO of FDE, added: “We are delighted to work with ITM as a partner for the supply of an integrated electrolyser solution for our Agder Hydrogen Hub project, one of the largest green hydrogen projects in Norway.”

ITM Power supplies NEPTUNE V units | Global Hydrogen Review