Northern Ireland Project Explores Green Methanol Fuel

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  • Northern Ireland Pioneers Net Zero Shipping Corridor with Maritime Power-to-X Project.
  • Green Methanol Innovation Set to Revolutionize Zero-Emission Freight Ferries.
  • Global Recognition for Maritime Power-to-X: A Step Towards Sustainable Shipping.

A pioneering project launched by Northern Ireland would have net-zero shipping corridors brought to life and help open the way toward zero-emission solutions worldwide in the maritime sector. The initiative, a Maritime Power-to-X led by Larne-based B9 Energy Storage, is an industry consortium focused on the full scalability of green methanol as an alternative fuel for freight ferries. Powered by innovative, sustainable technologies, it looks to impact significant carbon reduction in maritime shipping, reports Safety4Sea.

Green Methanol for Zero-Emission Shipping

B9 Energy Storage has designed a patent-pending technology that will power freight ferries using scalable green methanol, included in a carbon capture loop. This technology is expected to significantly reduce carbon emissions and deliver a more energy-efficient global shipping industry. Methanol synthesis will happen on-site at the Port of Larne, with green hydrogen that uses curtailed otherwise wind energy combined with CO2 on board the ferries. Captured CO2 will return to the port using the same containers delivered to shore for methanol thereby creating a circular economy in response to future green CO2 supply constraint points.

Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC4)

This project is a part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4 (CMDC4), an Innovate UK initiative funded by the UK Department for Transport (DfT). The CMDC4 is actually one of the initiatives under the UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (£206 million) – an umbrella program to decarbonize the UK’s domestic maritime sector.

Global Recognition and Project Progress

After the Smart Maritime Network’s annual conference in Copenhagen this month, David Surplus OBE, managing director, of B9 Energy Storage talked about the project. Green methanol has the power to transform global shipping. Maritime Power-to-X is the most unique project of its kind in the world – using green hydrogen from excess wind power and captured carbon to create scalable green methanol to power freight ferries”, said David Surplus. 

Key Partners and Advisory Functions

B9 Energy Storage has enlisted AECOM, a global infrastructure consultancy leader, to serve as its technical adviser. Key planning, policy, and environmental services from AECOM’s team are being provided along with the preliminary design of landside infrastructure for the project. Among these is the Teesside University Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre, DFDS Seaways, DFDS Logistics, JG Maritime Solutions, Larne Harbour, and Mutual Energy-all powerful allies that help push this project towards net-zero emissions in the maritime sector.

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Source: Safety4Sea