São Paulo – Maersk, the leader in maritime container transport in the world, stated this Friday (5) that initial tests for the use of ethanol in a mixture of ship fuels were successful, announcing the expansion of evaluations to a 50% mixture.
The Danish company sees ethanol as an option to diversify its portfolio of possible paths towards decarbonization in the seas. Maritime transport alone accounts for around 3% of all greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the planet.
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On the other hand, the eventual use of ethanol in maritime transport could open up a huge market for the product. In October, when announcing the first tests with a 10% ethanol mixture in marine fuel, Maersk brought together several executives from the largest biofuel manufacturers in Brazil, the second global producer after the United States.
“At Maersk, we believe that multiple fuel pathways are essential for the maritime industry to achieve its climate goals. This means consciously exploring different options and technologies,” said Emma Mazhari, head of Energy Markets at Maersk, in a statement.
The company, which represents 15% of the global maritime transport market, seeks net-zero emissions by 2040, achieving a balance between the amount of GHG emitted and the volume removed from the atmosphere.
Towards 100%
The initial test was carried out in October and November, involving a mixture of 10% ethanol and 90% e-methanol, confirming that the mixture can be used safely and effectively, the company stated.
Based on the results obtained, the company is now carrying out a new stage, with a mixture of 50% ethanol and 50% methanol on board the Laura Maersk, the world’s first dual-fuel container ship operating with methanol.
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In addition to the upcoming test with E50, Maersk plans to conduct a test using 100% ethanol.
“Ethanol has a proven track record, with an established market and existing infrastructure, offering an additional path to decarbonization. By gradually increasing the ethanol content, we gain valuable insights into engine performance and combustion impacts…” Mazhari said.
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In 2021, the company ordered vessels with dual-fuel capacity. The company predicts that, by 2025, 19 ships of this type will be operating in its fleet.
