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Report cites ethanol’s potential as marine shipping fuel
The report says a methanol dual-fuel ship fleet could consume about 2.0 billion gallons of ethanol annually under high substitution scenarios.
World Grain reports that a new study by the National Lab of the Rockies evaluates ethanol’s technical, economic, and environmental potential as a fuel for ocean-going vessels, in a report titled “Evaluation of Ethanol Use in Marine Shipping.”
According to World Grain, the report points to ethanol’s molecular similarity to methanol, along with lower emissions and lower toxicity. It also says that in the event of a spill, ethanol would dissolve rapidly and accumulate less than conventional oil spills.
World Grain further reports that the study identifies marine shipping as a potentially significant market for ethanol producers, estimating that the currently operating methanol dual-fuel fleet alone could consume roughly two billion gallons of ethanol per year under high substitution scenarios.
World Grain also notes remarks from Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor, who said the report suggests ethanol could have a potentially transformative impact on the maritime sector.