MOL, Hy2gen Deutschland to explore use of e-methanol for ships

Japanese shipping major Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and Hy2gen Deutschland have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore the use of e-methanol as a fuel for ships.

Hy2gen Deutschland is planning to produce e-methanol in a project in Lower Saxony, Germany , starting in 2028. Both companies are considering using it as a marine fuel used for marine transport in the Atlantic region.

Hy2gen Deutschland GmbH is a subsidiary of Hy2gen AG. The company specializes in the entire product range – from renewable hydrogen, commonly known as green hydrogen, to renewable ammonia and hydrogen-based e-fuels.

Using clean e-methanol, which is produced by synthesizing green carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen produced by using renewable energy, the partners aim to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared to currently existing marine fuels.

One of the key strategies to achieve this goal includes the “adoption of clean alternative fuels,” and MOL Group aims to have 90 LNG/methanol-fueled vessels in service by 2030.

In addition to this, with growing worldwide interest in methanol as a marine fuel, MOL plans to promote its initiatives to secure the necessary capacity, not only in terms of fleet planning of methanol dual fuel vessels but also building a supply chain of low and decarbonized methanol as a marine fuel.

In March this year, MOL joined hands with MOL Coastal Shipping, Tabuchi Kaiun Co., Niihama Kaiun Co., Murakami Hide Shipbuilding Co., and Hanshin Diesel Works to build a methanol-fueled coastal tanker. The vessel will be built at Kanasashi Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. part of the Murakami Hide Shipbuilding Group and is slated for delivery in December 2024.