Methanol was introduced commercially in the 1980s following crude price variations in 1970.
In 1990s, several car manufacturers came out with flexible fuel vehicles which could run with M15 blends.
Compared to gasoline, methanol emits less nitrogen oxides, zero sulfur emissions and lesser volatile harmful organic compounds that form smog or ozone when burned as fuel.
Lower level methanol-blends (M5, M10, and M15) can be directly used in most existing vehicles with little to no modification, as industry experience confirms.
In the process of making biodiesel fuel, methanol is used as a key component in a process called transesterification.
According to Methanol Institute, globally there are an estimated 90,000 marine vessels with a consumption of 370 MT of bunker fuel.
The use of methanol/methanol-diesel dual-fuel system has been found to be cost effective, competitive and environment friendly.
Methanol’s use in marine application is mainly due to MARPOL sulfur emissions restrictions.
Methanol ships have been powered by diesel concept engines which have been modified to run on both methanol and marine diesel.
Sweden’s Stena Line launched the world’s first methanol-fuelled ferry in March 2015.
Seven 50,000 dead weight tonnes vessels based on MAN B&W ME-LGI 2-stroke dual fuel engines that can run on methanol, fuel oil, marine diesel oil, or gas oil have also been commissioned in 2016.
Dual fuel technology is used, with methanol as the main fuel, but with the option to use Marine Gas Oil (MGO) as backup.
