MAN ES ammonia milestone

Ole Pyndt Hansen, head of two-stroke R&D at MAN ES, highlighted the importance of this milestone: “Having already completed more than 12 months of testing on a single cylinder running on ammonia, it’s a significant milestone to be able to step up to full-scale engine testing. We have been busy with the conversion process over the past few months, including ensuring that all safety provisions work according to our requirements. We are now ready for the next phase that will focus on, among other parameters, combustion and emissions, engine-tuning, atomizer testing, and control-system verification. This is provisionally set to continue until mid-2025.”

The ME-LGIA engine is the first of its kind—a two-stroke engine capable of running on ammonia, a carbon-free fuel increasingly recognized for its potential to decarbonise shipping. The project underscores MAN ES’ commitment to pioneering new technologies while prioritising safety and reliability during the development process.

Bjarne Foldager, head of two-stroke business at MAN ES, emphasised the significance of this achievement: “The market is hungry for any news related to our ME-LGIA development and this, the beginning of testing on the world’s first two-stroke, full-scale ammonia engine, is a major milestone. MAN Energy Solutions is proud to be a pioneer within the new segment of ammonia engines, but it is equally as important for us to show the world that we are moving forward cautiously in a reliable and safety-first way. Now is the time to develop the technology, and we look forward to revealing our progress at the appropriate time.”

The testing program will evaluate critical aspects such as combustion and emissions performance, alongside engine tuning and control systems, to ensure the technology meets the rigorous standards required for commercial application. This phase of development is expected to run until mid-2025, during which the company will refine its systems and validate the safety measures integral to the technology.