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Renewable methanol as a fuel for the shipping industry

Author

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  • Svanberg, Martin
  • Ellis, Joanne
  • Lundgren, Joakim
  • Landälv, Ingvar

Abstract

Maritime shipping is essential in global trade. The shipping industry uses fossil fuel with significant environmental impact as a result and a transition to renewable fuels may be part of the solution to reduce emissions. A fuel transition needs to be understood at all stages of the supply chain, ranging from feedstock to use in ships’ engines. The purpose of this paper is to do a synthesis of literature to provide an overview of main challenges and opportunities along potential supply chains of renewable methanol for maritime shipping, with a focus on bio-methanol. It is shown that renewable methanol is a technically viable option to reduce emissions from shipping and there are no major challenges with potential supply chains. Minor economic barriers that currently exist have the potential to be overcome with strengthening of environmental targets for shipping or if fuel oil prices revert to higher levels as seen previously.

Suggested Citation

  • Svanberg, Martin & Ellis, Joanne & Lundgren, Joakim & Landälv, Ingvar, 2018. "Renewable methanol as a fuel for the shipping industry," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 1217-1228.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:94:y:2018:i:c:p:1217-1228
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2018.06.058
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    13. Xing, Hui & Spence, Stephen & Chen, Hua, 2020. "A comprehensive review on countermeasures for CO2 emissions from ships," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    14. Korberg, A.D. & Brynolf, S. & Grahn, M. & Skov, I.R., 2021. "Techno-economic assessment of advanced fuels and propulsion systems in future fossil-free ships," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 142(C).
    15. Hui Xing & Charles Stuart & Stephen Spence & Hua Chen, 2021. "Fuel Cell Power Systems for Maritime Applications: Progress and Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-34, January.
    16. Davide Tonelli & Lorenzo Rosa & Paolo Gabrielli & Ken Caldeira & Alessandro Parente & Francesco Contino, 2023. "Global land and water limits to electrolytic hydrogen production using wind and solar resources," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-14, December.
    17. Tino Vidović & Jakov Šimunović & Gojmir Radica & Željko Penga, 2023. "Systematic Overview of Newly Available Technologies in the Green Maritime Sector," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-26, January.
    18. Rocio Gonzalez Sanchez & Anatoli Chatzipanagi & Georgia Kakoulaki & Marco Buffi & Sandor Szabo, 2023. "The Role of Direct Air Capture in EU’s Decarbonisation and Associated Carbon Intensity for Synthetic Fuels Production," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-28, May.
    19. Olympia Nisiforou & Louisa Marie Shakou & Afroditi Magou & Alexandros G. Charalambides, 2022. "A Roadmap towards the Decarbonization of Shipping: A Participatory Approach in Cyprus," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-27, February.
    20. Alam Md Moshiul & Roslina Mohammad & Fariha Anjum Hira, 2023. "Alternative Fuel Selection Framework toward Decarbonizing Maritime Deep-Sea Shipping," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-37, March.
    21. Harris, Kylee & Grim, R. Gary & Huang, Zhe & Tao, Ling, 2021. "A comparative techno-economic analysis of renewable methanol synthesis from biomass and CO2: Opportunities and barriers to commercialization," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 303(C).
    22. Wiesberg, Igor Lapenda & Brigagão, George Victor & Araújo, Ofélia de Queiroz F. & de Medeiros, José Luiz, 2019. "Carbon dioxide management via exergy-based sustainability assessment: Carbon Capture and Storage versus conversion to methanol," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 720-732.

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