- Shipping’s interest in methanol as a fuel faces challenges due to its environmental impact, as current production relies on fossil gases.
- Greener pathways involving hydrogen synthesis are expensive, and biological methane sources also pose economic hurdles.
- The high cost, lower energy efficiency, and availability of alternatives raise questions about synthetic methanol’s viability in the shipping industry.
The shipping industry has witnessed a surge in interest in methanol as a fuel, with major players like A.P. Moller Maersk ordering dual-fuel methanol-diesel engine ships, sparking a trend in mid-2021.
Current Challenges and Environmental Concerns
Despite the rising popularity, the current production of methanol is not environmentally friendly, as it is primarily derived from natural gas, coal, and other fossil gases, resulting in substantial greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, its energy efficiency is lower than marine diesel, making it less favorable for reducing overall emissions.
Greener Pathways to Methanol: Synthesis from Hydrogen and CO2
Efforts to make methanol production greener involve synthesizing it from green hydrogen and carbon dioxide. However, this process comes with significant challenges, including high energy requirements, capital costs, and sourcing green hydrogen. The report suggests that even under optimistic scenarios, the cost of manufacturing hydrogen for methanol remains prohibitively high.
Biological Sources of Methane as an Alternative
Another pathway to methanol involves using biologically sourced methane, derived from anaerobic digestion or other biological processes. While this approach may mitigate some environmental risks, it still faces challenges such as higher costs compared to fossil gas-based methanol.
Despite the current interest in methanol as a shipping fuel, the industry is grappling with the economic viability and environmental impact of different production pathways. The article questions the practicality of synthetic methanol given its high costs, lower energy efficiency, and the availability of alternative fuels for the shipping sector.
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Source: Forbes
