The consortium consisting of Air Liquide, MAN, ETA Florence Renewable Energies and four academic partners (CERTH, Sant’Anna, LRGP and TU Delft) announces the official launch of the M²ARE project on December 1, 2023. The project aims to develop and demonstrate a novel process for “Maritime Methanol”, a new grade of low-cost low-carbon methanol based on biogenic CO₂ and renewable H2, to support the needs of the global shipping sector in reducing their CO₂ emissions. Today, waterborne transport is driven primarily by diesel engines (around 99%), using mainly heavy fuel oil (HFO), which tends to be high in sulphur, and middle distillate fuel (MGO). In 2019, shipping represented around 3-4% of all EU GHG emissions and around 13% of the transport sector.

In response to the high demand for maritime decarbonized fuel, M²ARE project will deliver a methanol synthesis demonstration plant by mid-2027, using the existing pilot plant located at the Air Liquide Innovation Campus Frankfurt, Germany. This “Maritime Methanol” will be suited specifically to engine usage and aims at a CO₂ emission reduction by more than 80% compared to conventional maritime fuels on a well- to-wake basis (the entire process of fuel production, delivery and use onboard ships, and all emissions produced therein).

The expected outcomes of the M²ARE project include:

• The assessment and qualification of bio-CO₂ from sources such as biogas, biomass combustion, bioethanol, and pulp & paper plants for their feasibility in the methanol synthesis.

• An improved methanol process using a new reactor system based on process intensification and a simplified methanol purification.

• A unique process to convert bio-CO₂ with fluctuating H2 coming from renewable energy sources into flexible grades of Maritime Methanol that will be validated through a series of engine tests.

• A digital model of the whole value chain from CO₂ and H₂ through to the maritime fuel will be developed to de-risk the technology and boost its scale-up.

The M²ARE project is launched by a consortium with broad expertise across the entire value chain. With this project, the consortium is pushing the boundaries of the current state-of-the-art technology and knowledge required to deliver new solutions to meet ambitious economic and environmental targets for using low- carbon methanol in the maritime sector. The project also contributes to achieving five of the United Nations Sustainable Goals.

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