SwticH2’s green-ammonia vessel illustration
Under the agreement, ABB will deliver a prefabricated eHouse, electrical distribution systems, and ABB Ability™ System 800xA® Integrated Control and Safety System (ICSS) with full cybersecurity integration. These modular systems are designed for safe, efficient, and reliable offshore operations and will fully integrate with third-party equipment, including electrolyzers and ammonia synthesis units.
Saskia Kunst, CEO of SwitcH2, said: “This collaboration represents a key step in advancing offshore production capabilities for next-generation marine fuels. By integrating ABB’s advanced electrification and automation systems, we are demonstrating how technology-driven partnerships can accelerate innovation, shaping the future of energy at sea.”
The FPSO will utilize treated seawater for electrolysis to produce green hydrogen. This hydrogen will be combined with nitrogen extracted from the air to synthesize green ammonia. Once produced, the ammonia will be condensed and stored onboard, then transferred to carrier ships via a floating hose system for transport to ports where it can be used as marine fuel or converted back to hydrogen for industrial purposes.
Green ammonia is emerging as a scalable solution for decarbonizing sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as shipping, which contributes roughly two percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Per Erik Holsten, President of ABB’s Energy Industries division, said: “As with other hard-to-abate industries, we are committed to helping the marine sector operate leaner and cleaner. Our leading technologies in automation and electrification will enable this project to run more efficiently. Green ammonia offers a technically viable method for decarbonizing marine transport, and this FPSO concept showcases how renewable energy can be leveraged to unlock low-carbon energy value chains.”
Front-end engineering and design (FEED) work is scheduled to continue until summer 2026, with a Final Investment Decision (FID) expected by the third quarter of 2026. Detailed engineering and construction of the FPSO will follow in 2027, marking a significant step toward operationalizing green ammonia production offshore and contributing to sustainable marine fuel solutions.
This project highlights the growing adoption of renewable energy-driven technologies in the shipping sector and demonstrates the potential of modular offshore systems to scale low-carbon fuel production efficiently.
