Methanol a Viable Marine Fuel -Report
Methanol has a "historic opportunity" as a marine fuel, according to a new report published today by research group FCBI Energy.
Despite having many attributes that make methanol an attractive, low-emissions marine fuel, it has sometimes been overlooked in policy and industry discussions, according to FCBI Energy, whose report Methanol as a Marine Fuel finds the chemical to be a well-understood and safe to handle as a viable alternative to changing to low sulfur diesel, installing scrubbers or converting to LNG.
The new report, authored by marine energy systems expert Professor Karin Andersson of Chalmers University in Sweden, set out to examine methanol’s viability as an alternative marine fuel. The study found that methanol is abundant, biodegradable (the effects of a spill on the environment are low), compliant with the strictest international emissions standards, and could even be 100 percent renewable.
From a cost perspective, methanol prices show regional variation, and conversion costs are expected to drop dramatically as experience mounts. Moreover, as it is a liquid, methanol avoids the need for the expensive cryogenic equipment required for LNG, the report found. Infrastructure costs are relatively modest compared to potential alternative solutions, and current bunkering infrastructure only requires minor modifications to handle methanol.
The Methanol Institute’s CEO Gregory Dolan commented, “Traditionally one of the world’s most widely shipped chemical commodities, methanol now has an historic opportunity to move from ship’s cargo holds to their fuel bunkers. As this report documents, methanol’s use as a marine fuel provides shippers and port facilities with an affordable option for compliance with tightening emission requirements. Produced from a wide range of feedstocks – including a variety of renewable pathways – methanol provides an ideal pathway to sustainable shipping.”
The shipping and chemical industries have a long history and ample experience in safely handling methanol, the report noted. Current engines have performed well, and upcoming technologies will further improve on this performance.
Earlier in 2015, Stena Line of Sweden converted a large Ro-Pax ship, Stena Germanica, to run on methanol. Stena Line CEO Carl-Johan Hagman said, “The handling and installation of a liquid like methanol had clear advantages over gas or cryogenic fuels regarding fuel storage and bunkering…I believe this report can help raise awareness of this marine fuel and serve as an important source of facts to anyone looking for a greener shipping fuels.”
The report also examines potential market development strategies to advance the use of methanol as a marine fuel, a comprehensive list of all research and development projects with methanol as a marine fuel, and an index of companies involved in the marine methanol industry.
The full Methanol as a Marine Fuel report can be downloaded from the FCBI Energy website.
