MAN Energy Solutions has reported that its ME-LGIA (-Liquid Gas Injection Ammonia) engine, which is currently undergoing testing at its Research Centre Copenhagen (RCC) facility, has run at 100 percent engine load for the first time.

Ole Pyndt Hansen, head of two-stroke research and development at MAN Energy Solutions, said: “We began full-scale testing in November 2024 and have since proceeded in a cautious and safety-first way.”

“We have now operated the engine on ammonia from 25-100 percent load, marking yet another important step forward in the maritime energy transition. As such, we have now validated the ammonia fuel-injection system over the full load curve with diesel-pilot amounts recorded according to our targets,” added Hansen.

“Furthermore, the positive emission and performance characteristics from previous single-cylinder tests have now also been validated in full-scale engine operation.”

MAN Energy Solutions said in a statement that its proprietary selective catalytic reduction (SCR) was operational at all test loads to treat exhaust gases and that all supply and safety systems worked as intended.

Christian Ludwig, head of global sales and promotion for two-stroke business at MAN Energy Solutions, said: “The ME-LGIA concept is based on the diesel-cycle combustion principle, which makes it eminently suitable for power take-off.”

“Prior to this round of testing, we simulated power take-off on the ammonia engine with very positive results and are very happy to see this replicated in real life. We intend to support power take-off on the ME-LGIA to the same degree as with the other diesel-cycle engines in our low-speed portfolio,” added Ludwig.

The company added that the next testing phase will focus on performance and emission optimization, including injection and SCR systems and control strategies.