How methanol holds the key to unlocking hydrogen at sea

As e1 is a collaboration of engineers, financiers, and shipowners, we understand the multi-faceted challenge of transitioning a global fleet from traditional bunkers to future fuels.

But it’s not one that is not unsolvable. By innovating, collaborating and considering the real requirements of ship owners and operators, we can distinguish and drive forward economically viable solutions. Moreover, we can provide owners and operators with the agility required to react to future market demands, with fuel flexibility a key consideration.

Different approaches

As is stands, there are a few core approaches being considered to elevate clean maritime transportation. However, these come with notable challenges. Firstly, battery-electric solutions (BESs), contrary to common assumption are far from readily available. This is because the 100% carbon free renewable energy used to charge them is far from sufficient to meet necessary demand. The US national grid only generates 18% of its power from renewable sources, for example. Secondly, carbon scrubbing and recovery (CSR) will be challenging to establish in the near term due to plants being large and the significant storage associated with the capture of CO2 often not available. Finally, while they carry huge potential, alternative fuels, such as ammonia, are less feasible due to their production carbon footprint and the lack of truly renewable manufacturing of these future fuels.

We therefore view hydrogen, used in a fuel-cell electric solution (FCE), as the solution to offering an immediate alternative to support emerging clean marine transportation solutions.

The Most Abundant Element

Hydrogen, on its own, is not yet a viable decarbonisation solution for the maritime industry. This is not due to a lack of potential or desire for hydrogen-fuelled vessels. It is because of the complexities involved with scaling, handling, storage and bunkering, and a lack of regulation.

As a famous Hungarian mathematician once said, “It is better to solve one problem five different ways, than to solve five problems one way.” In the case of hydrogen, finding a range of innovative techniques to enable its use as a fuel at sea now, is better than the alternative of waiting for one cost-effective, safe, and high storage hydrogen-fuelled vessel to enter the market.

Methanol, for example, can be used to solve the challenges associated with hydrogen as a maritime fuel. As a chemically effective carrying medium for hydrogen, widely approved fuel type and available at more than 85 of the top 100 ports worldwide, methanol holds the missing link to hydrogen use. Chemically, methanol has the highest hydrogen to carbon ratio of any non-cryogenic liquid marine fuel and has a considerably smaller storage footprint and lower weight than compressed hydrogen.

Its cost-competitiveness, availability and chemical composition have not gone unnoticed by shipping’s industry leaders. In August, Maersk ordered a series of eight large container vessels capable of being operated on carbon-neutral methanol, along with an option for a further four vessels. The major player’s order was spurred on, in part, by consumer demand for a greener overall supply chain.

CH₃OH > H

Our methanol to hydrogen generator technology, which was covered in The Motorship in June, combines the strengths of both fuels, with a PEM fuel cell, to provide ship owners and operators with electricity on their ships or as the main source of propulsion on smaller vessels.

Moreover, with one-third of the hydrogen produced by the technology coming directly from water, our technology reduces CO2 emissions by a minimum of 28% at a competitive price. Likewise, with our technology consuming 35% less energy than diesel-generators, and eliminating NOx, SOx and PM emissions it is cost-effective operationally today – even before considering any new regulations or carbon tax.

While there is no realistic way to decarbonise the entire shipping industry today, there are people driving solutions that can significantly reduce emissions now. By taking into consideration the requirements of owners and operators, newer fuel components and realities of our current bunkering infrastructure, we can determine each fleet’s unique challenges and create solutions that work for them. The new era of shipping is upon us and it’s hydrogen powered.