MARINE METHANOL | Future-Proof Shipping Fuel

An increasing number of shipping companies are relying on marine methanol to navigate the transition toward net-zero shipping, including AP Moller Maersk, Methanex Waterfront Shipping, Stena, CMA CGM, COSCO and many more. A list of methanol ready vessels can be found here: Methanol Vessels on the Water and on the Way.

On the regulatory front, marine methanol meets the most stringent regulations issued by the IMO on SOX, NOX, and PM emissions. Additionally, marine methanol offers a clear pathway to minimizing carbon emissions, as operators switch from fossil fuels to carbon neutral e-methanol and biomethanol.

The commercial availability of engines and fuel injection systems play in marine methanol’s favor, as does the fact safety regulations for on-board use have already been developed. In this regard, marine methanol has the advantage of being ready to deploy today, unlike cryogenic fuels for which key technology and safety regulations are yet to be developed. Methanol is a liquid at ambient temperature and pressure, making it easier to handle than cryogenic fuels. For this reason, methanol can be transported, stored and bunkered following procedures similar to those required by diesel fuels. The infrastructure used for marine fuels such as HFO and MGO can, with minor modifications, be used for methanol. Figure 55.

Expected Availability of Alternative Marine Fuel Technologies - DNV Estimates Source: DNV, 2022 2-stroke engine 4-stroke engine Boiler Fuel cell Regulations for onboard use 2-stroke engine 4-stroke engine Boiler Fuel cell Regulations for onboard use 4-stroke engine Fuel cell Regulations for onboard use CCS technology Regulations for onboard use METHANOL AMMONIA HYDROGEN CCS 2022 Validation (TRL 4) Onboard technology available (TRL 9) Low safety regulatory maturity High safety regulatory maturity 2026 2030 2034 MARINE METHANOL Future-Proof Shipping Fuel.

By virtue of being fully miscible in water and biodegradable, a methanol spill is likely to have only temporary and fully reversible effects on marine life. Other things being equal, you would need to spill 200 times more methanol than HFO to kill the same number of fish. Shipping operators would have no problem sourcing methanol, as it is a globally traded commodity found in over 120 ports and produced in over 90 facilities with an aggregate production capacity of ~120 million tons. By 2050, production capacity is expected to grow to 500 million tons, out of which 80 percent will be ultra-low carbon e-methanol or bio-methanol, according to IRENA.

Regarding cost-effectiveness, a recent study has estimated that e-methanol and bio-methanol are the most cost-effective low carbon fuels by total cost of ownership. However, low carbon fuels are two to eight times more expensive than their fossil counterparts. This highlights the need for regulatory measures to encourage the widespread uptake of low carbon marine fuels, including e-methanol and bio-methanol.

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Methanol, Ammonia and Hydrogen