MPCC strikes e-fuels deal with German producer

Norway's MPC Container Ships (MPCC) has entered into an e-fuels offtake agreement with power-to-liquid fuels producer Ineratec.

PHOTO: MPCC's two methanol-ready container ships have been chartered for 15 years to North Sea Container Line (NCL), and will be used to ship products for industrial group Elkem and other companies. Elkem

Ineratec will produce synthetic marine diesel oil (MDO) for MPCC’s small- and medium-sized container ships through combining green hydrogen with biogenic CO2.

Unlike CO2 from fossil fuels, biogenic CO2 can be recycled and renewable. Fuels made with biogenic CO2 will still emit CO2 during combustion on ships, but as the CO2 has been absorbed from the atmosphere through growing and dying biomass, the fuels can have much lower or even negative well-to-tank emissions and be carbon neutral across their lifecycle.

MPCC plans to start running vessels on the synthetic MDO from next year.

“While there will be a variety of different fuels in the future, the synthetic MDO produced by INERATEC is of particular relevance as it can be used both in conventional combustion engines on our existing vessels and as pilot fuel for our methanol powered newbuildings,” MPCC chief executive Constantin Baack says.

Last summer, MPCC ordered two 1,300 TEU dual-fuel container ships that can run on methanol that are due for delivery in the second half of next year. Back then Baack said the order will help to set up a “green transportation corridor in Northern Europe”.

Ineratec is building a first e-fuels production plant in Frankfurt, Germany, where it will produce sustainable aviation fuel, synthetic chemicals and gasoline, in addition to synthetic MDO. It is also scoping out other potential production sites across the world.

By Erik Hoffmann

Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online