The notion that electric vehicles (EVs) are the future of the transport sector is slowly starting to be counter-argued by other innovations that seek to capture other fuels. Whilst the world looks for sustainable options, automakers are trying to look beyond pure BEVs and even ICEs for futuristic propulsion systems.
Ammonia, hydrogen, and methanol in particular are evident as key prospective green fuels for the shipping industry. These fuels provide special benefits that may change the approach to supplying engine power in the future.
Ammonia’s carbon-free future and why it is a promising source of engine fuel energy
Ammonia is receiving much attention as a fuel for ships and industrial engines because it can transport hydrogen without carbon emissions. Ammonia (NH3) has been used chemical in fertilizer industries in the chemical industry but has been recently utilized as a fuel. New ammonia engines are expected to be released in 2024 with Wärtsilä 25 being one of the first ammonia dual-fuel engines that are already available for use.
This engine has been put through its paces to reduce the level of ammonia in the combustion process to as low as 10% with the remaining 90% consisting of such a conventional fuel as diesel or natural gas. Ammonia’s main advantage comes from the fact that it possesses no carbon content, which is in line with the global push for decarbonization.
Some estimations indicate that ammonia could represent up to 27% of ocean-going vessels by the year 2050. However, ammonia has its problems – ammonia is a very toxic and corrosive substance, and this raises the need to take various measures while aboard in addition to the need for specialized training of the crew.
Hydrogen offers high-efficiency zero emissions: How it is changing the shipping industry
Hydrogen gas has been used for many years as an ideal gaseous fuel whose combustion only emits water vapor and has high energy density. Hydrogen-powered engines are already getting attention in the maritime industry. Belgian company Anglo Belgian Corp (ABC) offers BeHydro hydrogen dual-fueled engines that can run on hydrogen or traditional fuels with up to 85% reduction of CO2 emissions.
The first vehicle with hydrogen engines is Hydrotug 1, a tugboat launched in Belgium as the first tugboat running on hydrogen. These engines are a quantum improvement in terms of carbon emissions and the design also offers versatility in the sources of fuel by being able to run on both gas and liquid fuels, depending on availability.
As hydrogen infrastructure remains under development, dual-fuel engines are a more realistic immediate means of decreasing carbon emissions while keeping operations financially feasible.
Why methanol engines provide flexibility and sustainability in modern engine fuel development
Another of new fuels is methanol, which is easily adaptable to the engines, and its application provides high consumption safety. Methanol as a fuel can be generated by natural gas and biomass and has more favorable attributes in terms of emissions levels than fossil fuels.
In a bid to tap into the growth of methanol, engine manufacturer Wärtsilä is retrofitting several of its current engine models, including the Wärtsilä 32 which is popular in tugs and push boats. Compared to other alternatives, methanol is easy to store and can be easily converted for use in existing diesel engines which makes it ideal for industries that do not wish to overhaul their infrastructure in their bid to adopt greener fuels.
On top of these, methanol engines are being developed to be flexible, which is important given the volatile nature of fuel standards for marine vessels to give their owners flexibility in operations. Methanol-powered engines should be ready for shipment by 2025, and methanol will be an effective and viable option as industries transition toward carbon-free solutions.
How new engines using alternative fuels are pushing the maritime industry toward a greener future
All in all, the development of these new engines is a major step towards realizing the maritime industry’s decarbonization objectives. By establishing ammonia, hydrogen, and methanol as options for marine fuels, engine makers are offering owners/ operators the means to reverse the trend and operate in a more environmentally friendly manner without much compromise on the efficiency of their vessels’ operations.
These developments are not only applicable to newly built vessels but to the progressive retrofitting of current fleets making the adoption of cleaner technologies more widespread within the industry. With these engines now transitioning from the testing phase to real-world implementation, the industry shifts towards a more diverse and versatile approach to sustainable maritime propulsion.
The effectiveness of such measures can be expected to prompt a shift to non-conventional fossil fuels, which will significantly assist the international fight against climate change and the reduction of emissions from vessels.
