Methanol is already in use as a low carbon fuel, as Stena newbuilding project manager Jacob Norrby explained at the Maritime Air Pollution, Europe conference in Amsterdam
Stena Bulk now operates six methanol dual-fuel tankers, but the lead vessel for the use of methanol as a marine fuel was 2000-built ferry Stena Germanica, which was retrofit installed in 2016 and became the test-bed for methanol fuel conversion and operation.
The ferry has operated for 10,000 hours. “We fully trust in methanol as a fuel,” said Mr Norrby.
The tankers have also been a test bed as instead of an EGR system, the new methanol fuel system mixes water to reduce emissions. The water mixing is also used when running on marine fuel, and also reduces emissions.
Joining Mr Norrby for the live session was Methanol Institute chief executive Chris Chatterton, who was on hand live from Singapore to provide the overview of the availability of methanol, and the pathways to low carbon and carbon-neutral production of brown and green methanol.
Regarding the placement of methanol in the realm of future fuels. “We are still missing elements of policy,” he said, “ and mechanisms to provide transparency and fairness.”
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