Robert Schluter, Managing Director of e1 Marine
Again in September, an unbiased examine performed by maritime analysis home Thetius revealed that methanol to hydrogen generator know-how, developed by Bend, Ore., based mostly renewable power know-how pioneer e1 Marine, can considerably scale back EPA-regulated emissions by as much as 99% when utilizing grey methanol when put next with typical diesel engines for inland waterway vessels. The know-how can even scale back GHG emissions by as much as 85% when utilizing inexperienced methanol as feedstock in the identical utility.
To higher clarify this examine and the know-how behind it, Robert Schulter, managing director at e1 Marine talks to Marine Log.
Marine Log (ML): First, what are your ideas on the brand new report, and what ought to maritime operators take away from it?
Robert Schulter (RS): The “In the direction of Zero” report demonstrates that methanol to hydrogen era know-how mixed with gas cell programs could make a big and quantifiable contribution to lowering a spread of dangerous emissions when put next with diesel engines.
At this time, operators might be assured that our system might scale back GHG emissions by as much as 27% utilizing available grey methanol. The financial savings improve to 57% by utilizing a mix of grey and inexperienced methanol; if simply inexperienced methanol is used, this could attain as much as 85%. Simply as importantly, e1 Marine’s know-how will eradicate EPA-regulated emissions, together with NOx, PM, HC, and CO, by 99%.
Though the modeling that was independently verified by Thetius was based mostly on the operational profile of inland diesel workboats, emissions financial savings might be achieved throughout a spread of purposes. For instance, for bigger vessels burning cleaner fuels in transit, the answer can assist preserve a sustainable emissions profile when vessels are in port by utilizing this for chilly ironing.
In flip, ports can be higher positioned to satisfy more and more stringent environmental targets, each by lowering the extent of emissions generated by vessels hoteling or from different shiploads by utilizing this know-how in modular kind alongside gas cells to create electrical energy for ongoing port operations, as electrical cranes, drayage vehicles and powering different port gear.
ML: What ought to inland or short-sea shippers take away from the report’s findings?
(RS): Inland and short-sea shippers have been listening to for a while now that they make up 15% of economic delivery, which is less complicated to lower. Nevertheless, from our conversations with many small vessel operators, there’s nonetheless plenty of uncertainty about essentially the most viable route to realize this.
Till now, they’ve used hydrogen as an influence supply for smaller vessels, which was inconceivable resulting from its storage necessities. Nevertheless, with our know-how, hydrogen energy might be created on demand from methanol and water.
The outcomes are spectacular for smaller vessels by making hydrogen gas cells a actuality in the present day with emissions advantages. Vessels with hydrogen gas cells propulsion utilizing hydrogen mills reforming methanol and water as feedstock would produce as much as 28% much less GHG emissions utilizing grey methanol in the present day. In distinction, an EPA tier 3 compliant marine diesel engine would produce extra carbon dioxide, ten instances extra CO, and 4 instances extra methane on the identical vessel.
As discussions round various marine gas choices proceed, this information strengthens the argument that smaller vessel operators have choices at their disposal, notably via hydrogen gas cells and batteries. It’s our aim to supply a renewable, versatile and cost-effective energy supply to allow the scaling of those options.
