Methanol as Marine Fuel
• Methanol (CH3OH) – is four parts hydrogen, one part oxygen and one part carbon.
• As a clean-burning fuel, methanol significantly reduces emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM).
• It can be produced from natural gas, coal and renewable sources such as municipal waste, biomass and recycled carbon dioxide.
• Methanol is cost competitive with existing fuels and modification to existing engines for burning methanol can be done at a reasonable cost.
• As a clean-burning fuel, methanol significantly reduces emissions of sulphur oxides (SOx), nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM).
• It can be produced from natural gas, coal and renewable sources such as municipal waste, biomass and recycled carbon dioxide.
• Methanol is cost competitive with existing fuels and modification to existing engines for burning methanol can be done at a reasonable cost.
E-Methanol or Green Methanol is produced by methanol synthesis process using green hydrogen and carbon dioxide captured from the air. It is a type of e-fuel or electrofuel.
Bio-methanol is produced from gassification of biomass and waste.
Methanol is in liquid form at ambient temperature and can be stored easily. Many ports worldwide already have methanol storage facilities and it is being transported globally with widespread familiarity. It has a lower volumetric energy compared to existing fuels and tanks must be larger by upto 2.3X for equivalent energy output.
The cost to build new and convert existing vessels to run on methanol is significantly less than alternate fuel conversions. Methanol dual fuel engines are available widely and even existing engines can be modified to burn methanol with slight modifications.
Regulations concerning methanol as a fuel are in draft form and are yet to be adapted. Methanol is biodegradable and if spilled in water is non toxic to marine life and dilutes quickly.