The solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) power system fueled by NH₃ is considered one of the most promising solutions for achieving ship decarbonization and carbon neutrality. This paper addresses the technical challenges faced by NH₃ fuel SOFC ship power system, including slow hydrogen (H₂) production, low efficiency, and limited space. It introduces an innovative a NH₃-integrated reactor for rapid H₂ production, establishes a safe and efficient all-electric SOFC all-electric propulsion system adaptable to various sailing conditions. The system is validated using a 2 kW prototype experimental rig. Results show that the SOFC system, designed for a target ship, has a rated power of 96 kW and an electrical efficiency of 60.13%, meeting the requirements for rated cruising conditions. Under identical catalytic scenarios, the designed reactor, with highly efficient heat transfer, measuring 1.1 m in length, can achieve complete NH₃ decomposition within 2.94 s, representing a 35% reduction in cracking time and a 42% decrease in required cabin space. During high-load voyage conditions, adjusting the circulation ratio (CR) and ammonia-oxygen ratio (A/O) improves system efficiency across a wide operational range. Among these adjustments, altering the A/O ratio proves to be the most efficient strategy. Under this configuration, the system achieves an efficiency of 55.02% at low load and 61.73% at high load, allowing operation across a power range of 20% to 110%. Experimental results indicate that the error for NH₃ cracking H₂ is less than 3% within the range of 570–700 °C, which is relevant to typical ship operation scenarios. At 656 °C, the NH₃ cracking H₂ rate reaches 100%. Under these conditions, the SOFC produces 2.045 kW of power with an efficiency of approximately 58.66%. The noise level detected is 58.6 dB, while the concentrations of CO₂, NO, and SO₂ in the flue gas approach zero. These findings support the transition of the shipping industry to green, clean systems, contributing significantly to future reductions in ocean carbon emissions.

28 April 2026 / Kiel. How much of the essential trace element iron remains available for marine life in the ocean depends critically on the diversity of organic molecules in seawater. This is shown by new research published in Nature Communications by an international team led by Dr Martha Gledhill from the GEOMAR Helmholtz Centre for Ocean Research Kiel. The study demonstrates for the first time that the formation of iron minerals and the distribution of dissolved and particulate iron in the South Pacific can be realistically predicted when the chemical complexity of organic matter is taken into account. These findings provide an important basis for understanding how marine life may respond to a warmer and more acidic future ocean.

A new decades-long study of oceanographic data provides the first evidence that deep-ocean heat has moved closer to Antarctica, threatening the fragile ice shelves that fringe the continent.

Biodegradable plastics hold potential for reducing marine plastic pollution, but degrade too quickly, limiting their practical use. Researchers from Gunma University now show that crab shell by-products can reduce the breakdown rate of biodegradable plastics in seawater by altering the microbial communities that colonize their surfaces, known as the plastisphere. These findings could help design plastics that stay durable during use and then degrade at an appropriate time once in the ocean.