The Week in Alt Fuels: Ammonia and methanol bunkering gain ground

The list of successful alternative-fuel bunker operations has been expanding, as evidenced by recent events. Two vessels capable of using ammonia fuel received green ammonia in different parts of the world. Eastern Pacific Shipping's Terra Clove was bunkered in South Korea at Ulsan, with fuel delivered from Envision Energy's facility in Inner Mongolia via Lotte Fine Chemical.

Meanwhile, CMB.TECH's Mineral Europa underwent a ship-to-ship bunker operation in Australia's Port Hedland, receiving an unspecified quantity of green ammonia from the Shenghang Yongle vessel. In China, OOCL's methanol-capable container ship OOCL Grace received 983 metric tons of bio-methanol in Yantian. These operations illustrate that alternative fuels can navigate various supply chains and enter ship bunker tanks.

However, transforming these isolated instances into routine deliveries requires addressing challenges such as consistent demand and supporting infrastructure. Ports like Singapore and Qingdao are exploring strategies to aggregate methanol bunker demand, potentially encouraging regular deliveries and infrastructure investments. A feasibility study by the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach projects methanol bunker demand could reach 64,000-250,000 metric tons per year by 2030, with LNG demand estimated at 65,000-115,000 metric tons annually.

While these figures offer a glimpse into the market that bunker suppliers must serve, availability of bunker infrastructure remains a critical factor. Currently, only 29 ports worldwide offer some form of methanol bunkering, with even fewer providing ammonia bunker services. Despite these limitations, the number of ports gaining practical experience with alternative-fuel bunkering continues to grow.

In other developments, DNV recorded 53 orders for alternative-fuel vessels in October, including 30 LNG-capable vessels and four ammonia-capable vessels. Japanese marine engine maker Japan Engine Corporation secured an order for four 60-bore ammonia-capable main engines for car carriers scheduled to be delivered in 2030, which will be powered by a planned ammonia bunker vessel.

Danish company European Energy is also partnering with Canadian ethanol producer Greenfield Global to develop an e-methanol production plant in Québec, potentially targeting ships as a key user of the fuel.