EMEA News
New Methanol Bunker Project Launched in Ghent
Ten private- and public-sector partners today jointly announced the formation of a new project to being methanol bunkers to the Ghent part of North Sea Port.
The North-C-Methanol is part of the North-CCU-Hub programme whose partners include ENGIE, Fluxys, and Mitsubishi Power.
The project envisages the construction of two large-scale demo plants and supporting infrastructure on the Rodenhuize peninsula in North Sea Port.
The first plant, a 65-MW electrolyser, is being erected on the ENGIE site. This hydrogen plant will convert water into green hydrogen and oxygen using wind power.
The second plant, a Proman methanol plant on the Rodenhuize peninsula, will use this green hydrogen to convert the collected CO2 emissions into "green" methanol that can then be used as a marine fuel, amongst other uses.
With an investment value of EUR 140 million ($166 million) the group have set a long-term aim of realising an overall annual reduction in CO2 emissions of 1 million tons in North Sea Port.
While current uptake of methanol bunkers is limited, it is a promising candidate for a fuel of the future thanks to its wide availability and favourable emissions footprint.
As it is a liquid fuel at ambient temperature, unlike LNG it is practical to convert oil-based bunkering assets to supply methanol.
