IEA-AMF is proud to present the final report of Task 60 on the progress of advanced marine fuels. The Task started in November 2019 under the lead of Denmark. The Task Member Countries within the project were Austria, Canada, China, Finland, Republic of Korea, Sweden, Switzerland and USA.
Global marine shipping is a sector, which is hard to electrify and therefore in need of advanced motor fuels for a sustainable future. In short, sea shipping battery electric propulsion can however be, and already is, an alternative. The advanced motor fuels considered in this report are, bio-intermediates from catalytic pyrolysis or hydrothermal liquefaction, biodiesel blends, methanol, methane, hydrogen, ammonia, and propane.
The main conclusions of the report are:
- Marine engine technologies can utilize a wide range of renewable fuels and the market for flexible fuel marine engines is steadily growing.
- The main fuels in focus currently are LNG, LPG, Methanol, Ammonia, Pyrolysis-oils, Bio-crudes, and Hydrogen.
- Marine engines are available as gasoline-type SI-engines up to ~10 MW, 4-stroke diesels up to ~20 MW and 2-stroke diesels up to ~80 MW.
- The dominant engine technology for alternative fuel use is Dual Fuel Technology.
- Dual Fuel engines with low pressure gas admission deliver environmental benefits due to low NOX emissions compliant with IMO Tier III without after treatment. Any other engine type can be equipped with SCR and/or EGR to enable compliant NOX emissions.
- Sulphur emissions can be tackled with the new standard Low Sulphur Fuel (LSFO), available since 2020, or with a scrubber installation.
- Particle emissions, especially Black Carbon emissions, are most effectively reduced using clean burning fuels such as gas or alcohol. Scrubbers alone do not always solve this in full, and particulate filters are not suitable for every engine.
- CO2 emissions from engines are most effectively reduced with renewable Power-to-X-type fuels, or advanced biofuels. On-board Carbon Capture is a technology under investigation. Carbon Capture can be combined with bio- or Power-to-X-fuels for maximum impact. Ammonia and hydrogen are entirely carbon free fuels that do not emit CO2.
The report is available here: https://iea-amf.org/app/webroot/files/file/Annex%20Reports/AMF_Task_60.pdf
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In AMF, the Agency for Renewable Resources (FNR) represents the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL).
FNR contact persons: Lena Huck and Birger Kerckow
