Methanol Engines for Decarbonizing Shipping
The maritime industry has been under pressure to reduce emissions and meet certain objectives set by IMO for a long time. One solution that is gradually emerging as the most viable option is methanol in the marine industry. Since methanol can be made from renewable resources such as biomass or captured carbon dioxide, it is a potential candidate for dramatically cutting greenhouse gas emissions from ships. Firms such as Wärtsilä and Stena Line are leading this change, which began retrofitting their vessels to use methanol engines almost a decade ago. Their experiences are useful in informing us of the expansion of clean fuel technology across the maritime industry.
The First Methanol-Fueled Passenger Ship
In 2015, the Stena Line ferry, Stena Germanica, became the first passenger ship in the world to use methanol as its fuel type. Stena Line decided to start an ambitious retrofit project with the help of Lloyd’s Register, which involved installing methanol fuel tanks and modifying the four Wärtsilä engines to methanol operation. This groundbreaking initiative encountered many difficulties because there were no rules and requirements for using methanol as a fuel for ships at the time of the project. With the assistance of risk assessment and cooperation with partners such as Wärtsilä and shipyards, the project encountered some challenges connected with the compatibility of the materials, the design of the tanks, and bunkering.
Invaluable Operational Experience
Since the start of operating Stena Germanica on methanol, both Stena Line and Lloyd’s Register have gained nine years of operational knowledge regarding this fuel’s safe and efficient utilization. Design improvements were made step-by-step, for example, for the leak detection system and the fuel piping prone to vibrations. Bunkering experience has also evolved, and the ship has engaged in experimental ship-to-ship methanol transfers. Methanol has its own characteristics, so crew training and maintenance have been done to cope with this substance. This wealth of knowledge puts both firms at a vantage to support the industry change to methanol.
Creating More Opportunities in the Methanol Engine Offerings
Following the company’s initial work on the Stena Germanica retrofit, Wärtsilä has created a full range of methanol-compatible engines. In 2022, the company released the Wärtsilä 32 Methanol, which is considered one of the first solutions developed for using methanol as a marine fuel. Wärtsilä has a wide-ranging methanol engine offering 20 to 70+ megawatts and fuel supply solutions such as MethanolPac. These services are available for all vessels and power requirements and help in new construction and upgrades. This is particularly important as more shipowners look to methanol as a decarbonization solution; Wärtsilä’s growing product offering gives them the needed options.
Increasing the Network of Methanol Bunkering
While the use of methanol engines increases, there is a corresponding need to have a well-developed bunkering system to support this change. Methanol as a marine fuel, however, requires a sound methanol bunkering infrastructure for it to be viable on a global scale. Methanol is starting to get the required storage and handling infrastructure in ports around the world. For example, the Port of Rotterdam, which is one of the biggest and most technologically advanced ports in Europe, has started projects to set up methanol bunkering and plans to become one of the biggest alternative fuel suppliers. Likewise, activities in Asia and North America are looking at the possibilities of extending the supply chains of methanol. These developments not only provide support for the day-to-day requirements of methanol-fueled vessels but also contribute to the growth of methanol as a marine fuel in the future. The authorities of ports, suppliers of fuel and shipping companies share the responsibility for the development of an effective methanol bunkering system that will meet the needs of the maritime industry in transition to eco-friendly solutions.
Transitioning to low-carbon shipping is already in progress, and methanol is proving to be one of the promising solutions in this sphere. Stena Line, Lloyd’s Register, and Wärtsilä’s trailblazing efforts in retrofitting the Stena Germanica to methanol almost a decade ago have created a basis for the expansion of this technology. The operational experience acquired and the enhancement of the methanol engine solutions make these companies ideal partners for shipowners intending to switch to cleaner fuels. What has been observed in the initial methanol retrofits would certainly help the industry walk further on the path to achieving zero CO2 emissions as the world progresses.