Technologies already implemented in ports can use methanol as a fuel if existing fuel transfer systems (like the hose at a gas station) are slightly modified.[1]Marine & Offshore. “How Infrastructure Will Lay the Foundations for Alternative Fuels,” April 7, 2021. … Continue reading The process of getting fuel to ships is called bunkering. Although methanol is quite similar to existing fossil fuels in terms of necessary infrastructure, especially natural gas, port owners still need to upgrade the storage tanks and refueling stations to accommodate this material (potentially with government assistance). The benefits from the update, however, would outweigh the costs. Methanol-powered ships would create less air pollution, specifically for sulfur oxides and particulate matter, which decrease by the order of magnitude.[2]Lieshout, P.S. van, V. de Jonge, A.W. Vredelt, and S. Finner. 2020. “Green Maritime Methanol: WP3 Factsheet and Comparison with Diesel and LNG.” … Continue reading
Methanol is more corrosive and has a wider flammability range than conventional hydrocarbon fuels, especially if mixed with water.[3]Methanol Institute. “Atmospheric Above Ground Tank Storage of Methanol.” In Methanol Safe Handling Technical Bulletin, 2016. … Continue reading By percentage of volume, methanol vapor can catch on fire at 6% to 36%, while gasoline ranges only from 1.4% to 7%. And per every degree Fahrenheit, methanol expands in volume more than fossil fuels do, so a larger volume of tank must be left empty (around 20%) to allow for fluctuations in volume caused by temperature differences.[4]Methanol Institute. “Atmospheric Above Ground Tank Storage of Methanol.” In Methanol Safe Handling Technical Bulletin, 2016. … Continue reading Furthermore, inert gas (such as argon) should be used to isolate the main tank from outside, as methanol readily absorbs water from air.[5]Methanol Institute. “Atmospheric Above Ground Tank Storage of Methanol.” In Methanol Safe Handling Technical Bulletin, 2016. … Continue reading Inert gases blanket the tank from the humidity of the port’s air. As methanol is toxic to humans, but not the environment,[6]Methanol Institute. “Atmospheric Above Ground Tank Storage of Methanol.” In Methanol Safe Handling Technical Bulletin, 2016. … Continue reading open air placement of bunkering stations can reduce port workers’ exposure to toxic vapors without harming other living beings.
Existing storage tanks and the pipes need to be made out of stainless steel, as chemically polar methanol can corrode both aluminum and carbon steel.[7]Methanol Institute. “Atmospheric Above Ground Tank Storage of Methanol.” In Methanol Safe Handling Technical Bulletin, 2016. … Continue reading However, if a port has liquid natural gas fueling infrastructure in place, less upgrades are needed. Estimated cost of a smaller methanol fueling station is around 450,000 USD (€400,000), and upgrading existing gasoline bunker barges would cost approximately 1.7 million dollars (€1,700,000).[8]Andersson, Karin, and Carlos Márquez Salazar. 2015. “Methanol as a Marine Fuel Report.” FCBI Energy. … Continue reading Even though the cost of the latter is higher, increased fuel volume and mobility could motivate it. Measures to make methanol storage on shore safer, such as stainless steel and inert gases do cost extra, but they save maintenance costs in the long run.[9]Methanol Institute. “Atmospheric Above Ground Tank Storage of Methanol.” In Methanol Safe Handling Technical Bulletin, 2016. … Continue reading
Two ports, Gothenburg, Sweden and Kiel, Sweden, can be used as case studies, as a fully methanol-powered ferry runs between them. Although there are additional details of implementation challenges, this is extremely useful for feasibility.[10]Bass, Charlie. “Next Port of Call – the Methanol Bunkering Station?” Wartsila.com, May 6, 2021. www.wartsila.com/insights/article/next-port-of-call-the-methanol-bunkering-station. There are reports on existing ports using trucks to bunker ships with methanol. Trucks might work for small ships but not enough for the total shift of the entire industry. Therefore, special facilities are still needed.[11]Andersson, Karin, and Carlos Márquez Salazar. 2015. “Methanol as a Marine Fuel Report.” FCBI Energy. … Continue reading
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