Commercial methanol fuel cell production reaches the viable stage

After some set-backs, the two-year old start-up company Blue World Technologies of Denmark is about to commence limited production of its methanol fuel-cell technology.

Blue World Technologies chief executive and co-founder Anders Korsgaard said “One of the most crucial elements we have been working on these past two years is bringing down the production time and costs of fuel cell components. We have now reached a point which enables us to move one step closer towards commercialising the technology to compete with conventional technologies.”

The limited production that has now been started allows Blue World Technologies to deliver systems and components to customers as an initiating step towards scaling up the production. The experience gained from the limited production will be used in the continued optimisation of production methods and processes as the company moves onto serial production of 2,000 to 5,000 units. Blue World Technologies is expected to continue upscaling the production with an aim to reach a full-scale commercial production capacity of 50,000 fuel cell units within three years.

“There is an increased focus on Power-to-X and there is a big market demand for alternative technologies providing CO₂ reduction, which we also see in both our current orderbooks but also in the dialogues we have with potential customers. Starting this initial production now allows us to progress with development and trial projects with customers,” explained Blue World Technologies chief commercial officer and co-founder Mads Friis Jensen.

Methanol has many attractions as a fuel, and is currently used on several vessels. Hafnia Tankers is planning to build methanol-powered tankers for a methanol production facility.

As a green and clean alternative to combustion engines and diesel generators, methanol fuel cell technology provides multiple benefits such as cost-savings, CO₂ reduction – or even a CO₂ neutral operation when running on green methanol – as well as zero harmful emissions. The fuel cells run on methanol which is an easy-to-use e-fuel as it is liquid at atmospheric pressure making refuelling convenient and makes it possible to integrate and reuse in the world’s existing infrastructure. Methanol is a fuel that can be produced from green sources and is CO₂ neutral in a well-to-wheel perspective.