Maritime transport plays an essential role in the EU economy and is one of the most energy-efficient modes of transport. Nevertheless, it is as well a large and growing source of greenhouse gas emissions. Consequently, the use of alternative carbon-neutral propellants in shipping must be investigated and promoted.
Green methanol is a promising candidate as a future maritime propellant, which is currently investigated in the scope of the research project MariSynFuel funded by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport. At the project’s core is the development and construction of a facility for manufacturing green methanol on a demonstration scale in Bremerhaven, Germany, and the direct use of the fuel for the newly-built research ship ‘Uthörn’ of the Alfred Wegener Institute. The vessel, christened in November 2022, is equipped with two diesel engines retrofitted for methanol combustion. Because methanol has favourable storage and transport characteristics, it has numerous advantages in terms of storage and handling compared to pure hydrogen or ammonia. It is also biodegradable, which is important in the event of accidents at sea or in ports. In addition, existing tank farms and tank transporters can be converted with little effort and continued to be used.
The planned demonstration facility is to produce at least 500 kg of green methanol per day, matching the expected daily consumption of the ‘Uthörn’. To ensure the operation of the methanol synthesis facility and the acceptance of the manufactured methanol, a supply and distribution concept is developed within the project, which together with the preparation of a business plan will facilitate an economic perspective of the project’s approach. The generation and marketing of synthetic fuels at Bremerhaven is a first, essential step towards a more sustainable, local maritime energy supply and contributes to becoming less dependent on the import of fossil energy sources in future as well. The presentation will provide insights into the project and highlight first project results.
Practical Approach Towards Green Methanol as Maritime Propellant
Lect.Notes Mobility
Transport Research Arena Conference ; 2024 ; Dublin, Ireland April 15, 2024 - April 18, 2024
Transport Transitions: Advancing Sustainable and Inclusive Mobility ; Kapitel : 108 ; 750-756
03.05.2025
7 pages
Aufsatz/Kapitel (Buch)
Elektronische Ressource
Englisch
Online Contents | 2017
|DOAJ | 2025
|Understanding Fuel Saving and Clean Fuel Strategies Towards Green Maritime
DOAJ | 2023
|