Germany embarks on quest for methane fuel

MethQuest draws on the resources of 27 research and industry partners across six joint projects exploring fuel generation (MethFuel), automobile engines (MethCar), power station applications (MethPower), high-speed marine engines (MethMare), network and distribution issues (MethGrid) and assessments of cost, carbon impact and feasibility (MethSys).

The lead project will aim to develop and analyse technologies to enable methane-based fuels from renewables, with a focus on ‘sector coupling’. In the case of the port of Karlsruhe, an example to be explored under MethQuest, this means using the same energy sources to provide electricity, gas and heat to port infrastructure as well as powering fleets of buses and barges.

“For a successful energy transition, it is essential that the energy and transport sectors are looked at as a whole,” said Norbert Brackmann, government coordinator for the maritime industry. “Methane-based fuels produced using electric power generated from renewable energy sources will enable greenhouse gas emissions to be significantly reduced.”

The lead project coordinators will be Rolls-Royce Power Systems and the DVGW Research Centre at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. The German Ministry of Economic Affairs and Energy will fund €19 million of the total €32 million project cost.

Andreas Schell, CEO, Rolls-Royce Power Systems, added: “We have been pushing ahead with the use of alternative fuels, the development of new MTU gas engines and the further electrification of propulsion systems and energy systems with our Green and High-Tech initiative for a long time. We have been successful in doing this only because of our collaboration with strong partners. We are therefore delighted to increase our expertise in the MethPower and MethMare projects in a leading capacity as well as in the MethGrid project.”