Maersk is expanding its search for low-emission fuel alternatives by testing ethanol in a dual-fuel methanol engine, following a successful initial trial. The company will next conduct a 50/50 ethanolтАУmethanol blend test aboard the vessel Laura M├жrsk.
The first trial, carried out in October and November, used a blend of 10% ethanol and 90% e-methanol. It confirmed that ethanol can be safely and efficiently incorporated into the fuel mix, highlighting its potential to increase flexibility across MaerskтАЩs dual-fuel methanol fleet and effectively enable dual-fuel alcohol vessels.
тАЬWe believe multiple fuel pathways are essential for the shipping industry to meet its climate ambitions,тАЭ said Emma Mazhari, Head of Energy Markets at Maersk. тАЬThat means consciously exploring different options and technologies.тАЭ
Laura M├жrsk, the worldтАЩs first dual-fuel container ship designed to run on methanol, was built for methanol as its alternative fuel. Because ethanol and methanol are both alcohols with similar properties, the initial trial aimed to determine whether an E10 blend could ignite and burn as efficiently as pure methanol while maintaining comparable lubricity and corrosiveness.
The findings show that ethanol can be blended with methanol without affecting engine performance, opening the door to higher-percentage blends. After the upcoming E50 test, Maersk will move forward with a trial using 100% ethanol.
Ethanol, which already benefits from an established market and existing infrastructure, presents another route toward decarbonising shipping. Gradually increasing ethanol content allows Maersk to gather critical data on combustion and engine behaviour while informing future fuel-sourcing decisions.
тАЬTo future-proof its fleet, Maersk decided in 2021 to order only vessels with dual-fuel capabilities,тАЭ Mazhari added. By 2025, the company expects to have 19 such ships in operation. MaerskтАЩs current low-emission fuel lineup includes bio- and e-methanol, biodiesel, and, beginning in 2027, liquefied biomethane. LNG will also be available as a fossil alternative when time-chartered dual-fuel LNG vessels join the fleet.
