The Week in Alternative Fuels

This week's headlines were grabbed by suppliers looking to ramp up green fuel production to meet future shipping demand.

PHOTO: OCI is exploring bio-methanol production at its methanol plant in Chemical Cluster Delfzijl in the Netherlands. OCI Global

The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) mapped out a blueprint for Brazil’s maritime national action plan. ICCT urged Brazil to reduce its maritime emissions primarily through energy efficiency measures and using drop-in alternative fuels. Drop-in fuels like biofuels are generally compatible with existing ship engines and do not require major modifications to vessels' fuel or propulsion systems.

The Singapore-based Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) tested a B30 blend as a pilot fuel on a mid-sized gas carrier with an LPG dual-fuel engine. GCMD estimated that the trial demonstrated a 20% net reduction in emissions compared to VLSFO on a well-to-wake basis.

The ICCT also encouraged Brazilian shipping companies to replace fossil fuels with alternative fuels. But limited availability of cleaner fuels such as green ammonia and green methanol inhibits their widespread use.

If a supply shortfall materialises, a mass balance system could come to the rescue. OCI Methanol chief executive Bashir Lebada says mass balancing is essential to near-term scale. This accounting approach allows suppliers like OCI to produce renewable and low-carbon fuels at existing production facilities, while ensuring complete traceability, he told ENGINE.

One of the keys to boosting hydrogen-based fuel production is to make green hydrogen more affordable. Australian start-up Hysata has developed a capillary-fed electrolysis cell capable of producing green hydrogen with 95% efficiency at the "lowest levelized cost" of AUD2/kg ($1.50/kg), or $1,500/mt. Cheaper green hydrogen production will allow suppliers to produce large quantities of green ammonia and methanol at a significantly lower cost.

By Konica Bhatt

Here is our selection of top five alternative fuels stories from this week:

ICCT outlines guidelines for Brazil's maritime national action plan

GCMD uses fuel tracer in its third biofuel supply chain trial

INTERVIEW: Mass-balancing will be crucial to achieve IMO-guided targets – OCI Methanol CEO

Australian start-up to produce low-cost electrolysers with 95% efficiency

Wallenius Wilhelmsen orders alternative fuel-flexible vessels