Study shows potential of E-methanol as a marine fuel

In Germany, environmental organization NABU reported that a new study carried out by the Öko-Institut on behalf of NABU, showed the potential of E-methanol as a fuel for the shipping market, as it is less harmful to the environment than ammonia or heavy oil and easier to use. “The future fuel mix in all segments of the shipping market will be more diverse than is the case with the current dominance of heavy fuel oil and diesel. E-methanol could play an important role in this, and its exact share in the fuel mix will depend on several factors: production volumes of green methanol, cost reductions and the acceptance of ammonia as a fuel in shipping,” NABU said. The study concludes that methanol as a marine fuel and energy carrier bears low environmental risks compared to other potential fuels. It can offer sufficient energy density for most voyages and is comparatively easy to handle. E-Methanol enables a well-to-wake climate-neutral operation of a ship if produced using renewable energy and if CO2 is sourced from the atmosphere. The main obstacle tends to be the huge amount of renewable energy necessary for production, according to the study.

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