Net zero shipping corridors can become a reality thanks to a scalable green fuel, maritime experts have heard at an industry event in Antrim.
Maritime Power-to-X, a leading industry consortium led by Larne-based B9 Energy Storage, is exploring how fully scalable green methanol can be used as a zero-emission fuel for the global maritime industry.
Key to the project is patent pending technology developed by B9 Energy Storage which will allow freight ferries to be powered by green methanol with a carbon capture loop, providing the shipping industry with a fully scalable, ‘true zero’ emission fuel. The fuel would be synthesised using green hydrogen generated from excess wind power, and carbon captured on site.
The initial findings of the project have been hailed as revolutionary at global maritime conferences and this week, leaders from the shipping and energy sectors across Europe attended a stakeholder event hosted by the Maritime Power-to-X team at the Dunadry Hotel, Antrim.
Speaking at the event, David Surplus OBE, Managing Director, B9 Energy Storage said the technology has the potential to accelerate decarbonisation in the maritime sector.
“The shipping industry has set the goal of net zero emissions by 2050, and if this ambitious target is to be met, scalable renewable fuels need to be developed and onboarded,” explained David “Through our project we are demonstrating that green methanol can be fully scalable. By re-using the CO2in the synthesis of the methanol, we are closing the carbon loop, meaning freight ferries can be powered by fuel with “true zero” emissions. This has the potential to truly transform the maritime industry, deliver green shipping corridors and bring global shipping closer to its net zero goals. Armed with our initial findings, together with our partners, we aim to start pre-deployment trails at Larne Harbour early next year, making Northern Ireland the centre of this global shipping revolution.”
Mads Bentzen Billesø, Head of Innovation & Partnerships at DFDS, one of the partners on the project added:
“We are serious about delivering our decarbonisation objectives and are actively engaged in multiple projects to explore how alternative fuels can bring us closer to net zero, and we are pleased to play a role in this feasibility study. The benefits of green methanol as a fuel are clear to see, but the key is to establish how it can become fully scalable while recycling the captured carbon. Through Maritime Power-to-X we aim to demonstrate that this can be achieved.”
Partners on the project include B9 Energy, Teesside University Net Zero Industry Innovation Centre, DFDS Seaways, DFDS Logistics, JG Maritime Solutions, Larne Harbour and Mutual Energy.
This project is part of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition Round 4 (CMDC4), funded by the UK Department for Transport (DfT) and delivered by Innovate UK. CMDC4 is part of the Department’s UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, a £206m initiative focused on developing the technology necessary to decarbonise the UK domestic maritime sector.