The methanol-fuelled ferry Stena Germanica. photo by Wärtsilä/Stena.
47
The era of methanol as marine fuel is here As the shipping industry continues to seek the best possible fuel alternatives, methanol is emerging as a promising marine fuel on the sector’s decarbonization journey. Known to be sulfur-free, methanol - if produced from renewable green sources - has the potential to bring the industry to a level of carbon neutrality.
This potential is especially important within the context of the global maritime industry’s decarbonization efforts. As the industry is approaching more stringent 2030 and 2050 environmental regulations, it needs to switch to other fuel options to power its ever-increasing vessel fleet. And that need is urgent. There is a long list of fuels or energy carriers that could be used in shipping. Among the proposed alternative fuels, LNG, LPG, hydrogen, biofuel and methanol seem to be the most promising ones. Between 2020 and 2021, methanol has become one of the frontrunners instead of being just one of the obscure alternative fuel options. The next few years will show us whether
methanol is The Fuel that could transform shipping. Methanol is viewed as a good alternative marine fuel due to its potential to significantly cut GHG emissions since it does not contain NOx and sulfur and PM emissions are very low. Conventional methanol can be considered by shipowners as a mid-term solution to meet the 2030 goals. When it comes to its price, methanol is said to be competitive with marine gasoil (MGO) in emission-control areas. This alternative fuel is widely available at ports worldwide. What is more, the fuel has been described as easy to handle and compatible with most engine types with internal combustion. Operational safety and flexi-
bility are among other benefits as the fuel can be stored in an ordinary tank with few modifications. The main feed-stock in methanol production is natural gas. Current methanol production from mega plants around the world is using fossil-based natural gas and coal as their feedstock. However, methanol could be 100% renewable, as it can be produced from a variety of renewable feed-stocks or as an electro-fuel. Here, biomass, captured carbon dioxide and renewable hydrogen are expected to play a more prominent role in future production. A study “Methanol as marine fuel” published earlier this year highlights
