Skip to main content

Is volatile fuel used in racing cars a new power source for ships?

Methanol, a fuel used to power light aircraft and racing cars, is being tried out as alternative for ships, highlighting its potential in an industry under pressure to cut emissions.

From next year, shipping firms will have to cut polluting sulphur emissions in vessels going to parts of Europe and North America, sparking a race for alternatives to standard diesel between fuel sources such as methanol and liquefied natural gas.

As well as being considered a green fuel, methanol is potentially cheaper and more plentiful than diesel or LNG.

But it is trickier to handle than some fuels, such as diesel, due to its lower flashpoint -- the temperature where it vaporizes and could ignite -- so needs care to prevent fires.

"Compared with LNG as an alternative shipping fuel we see methanol in an early stage of development," said Thomas Wybierek, a shipping analyst at Norddeutsche Landesbank.

Methanol is currently more costly than diesel and less efficient to burn, though prices could come down as new projects to produce it come on stream.

South Korean and Japanese shipyards recently won the first orders for ships running on methanol. Engines, using 95 percent methanol and 5 percent diesel, are being developed and should be delivered in mid-2015, said engine builder MAN Diesel & Turbo.

"From a risk perspective I can't see that methanol has any drawbacks as compared to LNG," said Joanne Ellis at Swedish maritime transport consultant SSPA, which is working on one of two research programs looking at methanol as a marine fuel.

Methanol can be stored in existing tanks on ships and since it is not kept under pressure will not expand and explode in the way LNG could, she said.

Because LNG is super-chilled it also needs special tanks and could freeze ship equipment or cause injuries if it leaked.

Draft safety guidelines should be finalised this year for ships powered by fuels with low flashpoints such as methanol, the U.N.'s International Maritime Organisation (IMO) said.

RACE WITH LNG

There are about 50 LNG-fuelled ships operating globally, excluding dual-fuel LNG carriers. This will double with around 55 LNG-fuelled ships on order as firms in emission control areas opt to use LNG to comply with tougher IMO rules on emissions.But a lack of LNG refueling infrastructure at ports and the tanks needed to store it on ships, taking up space for cargo, are obstacles to its wider use, some experts say.

On the other hand, methanol can be stored in existing fuel tanks and transported to port by road tanker. It is usually produced from natural gas, though can also be made from biomass, carbon dioxide and even household rubbish.

Total methanol demand was 66 million tonnes in 2013, data from consultancy Jim Jordan and Associates showed, while demand for marine diesel was 372 million tonnes, according to OW Bunker, a supplier of the fuel.Shipping firms will have to cut emissions of sulphur dioxide in emission control areas in Europe and North America from the current 1 percent to 0.1 percent from next year under IMO rules.

_0">

Global IMO curbs will lower emissions to 0.5 per cent in 2020 or 2025 from the existing 3.5 percent.The controls have led shipping firms to consider alternative fuels as methanol, which is sulphur free and has low levels of nitrogen oxide, as well as low-sulphur diesel and LNG.Methanol is cheaper than LNG, which costs between $900 and $1,100 a tonne, including port and storage costs, according to maritime services consultant Poten & Partners.

_1">

Methanol is priced at $460-$560 per tonne, but twice as much needs to be burnt to generate the same energy as marine diesel, said Michael Teusch, business development manager at Danish catalysts firm Haldor Topsoe. Marine diesel costs about $600 a tonne, though with low sulphur it is much more expensive.

_2">

_3">

TANKERS AND FERRIES

_4">

Japan's Minaminippon Shipbuilding Co., and South Korea's Hyundai Mipo Dockyards Ltd are building seven methanol-fuelled tankers due to be completed in 2016.

_5">

Three of the vessels, costing $140 million in total, will be owned by Japan's Mitsui OSK Lines, the company said.

_6">

The ships have been chartered by Canada's Waterfront Shipping Company, a subsidiary of Methanex Corporation, the world's top supplier of methanol.

_7">

There is also a trial, partly financed by the European Commission, starting early next year using methanol to help power a ferry. If successful a fleet of methanol-powered ferries could be operating in Europe and Scandinavia by 2020.

_8">

George Cambanis, who heads Deloitte's Global Shipping and ports group, said that the host of players involved in various biodiesel projects for ships from engine manufacturers to ship safety classification society Lloyd's Register meant methanol was likely to be used more in the future.

_9">

"How soon the future comes is anybody's guess," he added.

_10">

_11">

(Editing by Ed Davies)

_12">

Popular posts from this blog

Study Abroad USA, College of Charleston, Popular Courses, Alumni

Thinking for Study Abroad USA. School of Charleston, the wonderful grounds is situated in the actual middle of a verifiable city - Charleston. Get snatched up by the wonderful and customary engineering, beautiful pathways, or look at the advanced steel and glass building which houses the School of Business. The grounds additionally gives students simple admittance to a few major tech organizations like Amazon's CreateSpace, Google, TwitPic, and so on. The school offers students nearby as well as off-grounds convenience going from completely outfitted home lobbies to memorable homes. It is prepared to offer different types of assistance and facilities like clubs, associations, sporting exercises, support administrations, etc. To put it plainly, the school grounds is rising with energy and there will never be a dull second for students at the College of Charleston. Concentrate on Abroad USA is improving and remunerating for your future. The energetic grounds likewise houses various

Best MBA Online Colleges in the USA

“Opportunities never open, instead we create them for us”. Beginning with this amazing saying, let’s unbox today’s knowledge. Love Business and marketing? Want to make a high-paid career in business administration? Well, if yes, then mate, we have got you something amazing to do!   We all imagine an effortless future with a cozy house and a laptop. Well, well! You can make this happen. Today, with this guide, we will be exploring some of the top-notch online MBA universities and institutes in the USA. Let’s get started! Why learn Online MBA from the USA? Access to More Options This online era has given a second chance to children who want to reflect on their careers while managing their hectic schedules. In this, the internet has played a very crucial in rejuvenating schools, institutes, and colleges to give the best education to students across the globe. Graduating with Less Debt Regular classes from high reputed institutes often charge heavy tuition fees. However onl

Sickening moment maskless 'Karen' COUGHS in the face of grocery store customer, then claims she doesn't have to wear a mask because she 'isn't sick'

A woman was captured on camera following a customer through a supermarket as she coughs on her after claiming she does not need a mask because she is not sick.  Video of the incident, which has garnered hundreds of thousands of views on Twitter alone, allegedly took place in a Su per Saver in Lincoln, Nebraska according to Twitter user @davenewworld_2. In it, an unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of the customer recording her. Scroll down for video An unidentified woman was captured dramatically coughing as she smiles saying 'Excuse me! I'm coming through' in the direction of a woman recording her A woman was captured on camera following a customer as she coughs on her in a supermarket without a mask on claiming she does not need one because she is not sick @chaiteabugz #karen #covid #karens #karensgonewild #karensalert #masks we were just wearing a mask at the store. ¿ o