THE HOLY GRAIL

METHANOL

On the road to emission-free shipping?

INTERVIEW

JOOST SCHAPENDONK

REGISTER

Interested in the progress of this project? Register for free for this online magazine and we keep you up to date on the developments within Pon Power.

PON POWER

GREEN MARITIME

METHANOL

PROJECT

WHICH WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF A CAT METHANOL ENGINE?

‘That’s not our primary ambition right now, but it could be a possible outcome someday. The main aim is to learn and to generate data from which we together with our customers can make the right choices in these challenging but exciting times. Caterpillar is also involved in this project with us and they are, very interested in the various solutions for helping Customers reduce emissions.’

BUT ENGINES RUNNING ON METHANOL ISN’T ENTIRELY NEW, IS IT?

‘You're absolutely right, but that information and data isn’t freely available and it usually involves other, very specific applications. So there’s a lot of speculation, which is why we're now converting an engine into 100% methanol. We’re working closely with Delft University of Technology and the NLDA (Netherlands Defence Academy), who will be using the data we measured and on the basis of that, they will be filling models. This will create a feedback loop, enabling us to further fine-tune the engine.’

JOOST SCHAPENDONK

Director Marketing & Technology Pon Power

“ We’re currently converting an engine so that it can run on 100% methanol.”

PLEASE TELL US MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT

‘The project is divided into work packages, in which we look at aspects such as logistics, legislation, technology, storage, safety, etc. Pon Power focuses on the technology work package. We are testing various concepts to combust methanol in an engine. We’re currently converting an engine so that it can run on 100% methanol. The idea is to have the entire test set-up ready in January and to start the engine for the first tests.’

IF THERE ARE SO MANY PARTIES THAT SUPPORT METHANOL, YOU SHOULD SUCCEED, RIGHT?

‘Everyone involved considered the facts, and we came to the conclusion that it could be one of the most promising alternatives. The biggest challenge now is the price of methanol and all the associated legislation, although the price is a matter of supply and demand. The government can direct prices by means of excise duties on diesel and subsidies on methanol. Ahead of that, we will be studying the technical implications of methanol.’

SO PON POWER BELIEVES METHANOL IS THE BEST OPTION TO REPLACE DIESEL?

‘No, it’s not that simple. There are a couple of alternatives worth examining, from biofuels to LNG, ammonia, hydrogen and biomethanol and electrification or combinations of these alternatives. All of them have pros and cons, but doing nothing isn’t an option. Legislation still very much focuses on CO2 emissions, but there are hardly any alternatives that offer an immediate solution for this. Hydrogen would be good, but storing that on board a ship comes with a lot of technical challenges, particularly for ships that cover medium to long distances. After a thorough analysis, Pon Power has decided to focus on methanol in this industry-wide project for now. But that doesn’t mean it’s the ideal solution.’

WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE GREEN MARITIME METHANOL PROJECT?

‘There’s a lot of uncertainty in the shipping industry. Numerous organisations and authorities impose ambitious requirements or targets for 10, 20 years down the line. But newly built ships have an economic lifespan of 25 years. So if you're an owner and you’re building a ship now, you have to consider all those new requirements and technologies, even though there are still so many uncertainties. In ten years’ time, for instance, can you even enter the port of Rotterdam with the ship you’ll be building next year, using the latest technologies? Also, in Europe in particular, social pressure on businesses to proactively engage themselves in sustainability is growing. We want to contribute to shaping sustainable shipping and removing uncertainties among owners by studying the possibilities with our customers and third parties.’

JOOST SCHAPENDONK

Director Marketing & Technology
Pon Power

GREEN MARITIME METHANOL PROJECT

One of those initiatives is participation in the Green Maritime Methanol Project, in which Pon Power and knowledge institutions, fellow engine suppliers, the methanol industry, class societies and shipping companies examine the possibilities of methanol as a shipping fuel. We asked Joost Schapendonk, Marketing & Technology Director at Pon Power, about the ins and outs of this project

The Netherlands are in the middle of the energy transition. The maritime industry is also aware of the fact that a lot of changes are afoot and that diesel is on its way out as a fuel. Parties are looking for alternatives, both in the Netherlands and abroad. Pon Power carries out its ambition to be the front runner in making shipping sustainable in various ways.

INTERVIEW

JOOST SCHAPENDONK

METHANOL

On the road to emission-free shipping?

THE HOLY GRAIL

The Netherlands are in the middle of the energy transition. The maritime industry is also aware of the fact that a lot of changes are afoot and that diesel is on its way out as a fuel. Parties are looking for alternatives, both in the Netherlands and abroad. Pon Power carries out its ambition to be the front runner in making shipping sustainable in various ways.

WHAT WAS THE REASON FOR THE GREEN MARITIME METHANOL PROJECT?

‘There’s a lot of uncertainty in the shipping industry. Numerous organisations and authorities impose ambitious requirements or targets for 10, 20 years down the line. But newly built ships have an economic lifespan of 25 years. So if you're an owner and you’re building a ship now, you have to consider all those new requirements and technologies, even though there are still so many uncertainties. In ten years’ time, for instance, can you even enter the port of Rotterdam with the ship you’ll be building next year, using the latest technologies? Also, in Europe in particular, social pressure on businesses to proactively engage themselves in sustainability is growing. We want to contribute to shaping sustainable shipping and removing uncertainties among owners by studying the possibilities with our customers and third parties.’

IF THERE ARE SO MANY PARTIES THAT SUPPORT METHANOL, YOU SHOULD SUCCEED, RIGHT?

‘Everyone involved considered the facts, and we came to the conclusion that it could be one of the most promising alternatives. The biggest challenge now is the price of methanol and all the associated legislation, although the price is a matter of supply and demand. The government can direct prices by means of excise duties on diesel and subsidies on methanol. Ahead of that, we will be studying the technical implications of methanol.’

SO PON POWER BELIEVES METHANOL IS THE BEST OPTION TO REPLACE DIESEL?

‘No, it’s not that simple. There are a couple of alternatives worth examining, from biofuels to LNG, ammonia, hydrogen and biomethanol and electrification or combinations of these alternatives. All of them have pros and cons, but doing nothing isn’t an option. Legislation still very much focuses on CO2 emissions, but there are hardly any alternatives that offer an immediate solution for this. Hydrogen would be good, but storing that on board a ship comes with a lot of technical challenges, particularly for ships that cover medium to long distances. After a thorough analysis, Pon Power has decided to focus on methanol in this industry-wide project for now. But that doesn’t mean it’s the ideal solution.’

PLEASE TELL US MORE ABOUT THE PROJECT

‘The project is divided into work packages, in which we look at aspects such as logistics, legislation, technology, storage, safety, etc. Pon Power focuses on the technology work package. We are testing various concepts to combust methanol in an engine. We’re currently converting an engine so that it can run on 100% methanol. The idea is to have the entire test set-up ready in January and to start the engine for the first tests.’

BUT ENGINES RUNNING ON METHANOL ISN’T ENTIRELY NEW, IS IT?

‘You're absolutely right, but that information and data isn’t freely available and it usually involves other, very specific applications. So there’s a lot of speculation, which is why we're now converting an engine into 100% methanol. We’re working closely with Delft University of Technology and the NLDA (Netherlands Defence Academy), who will be using the data we measured and on the basis of that, they will be filling models. This will create a feedback loop, enabling us to further fine-tune the engine.’

PON POWER

GREEN MARITIME

Interested in the progress of this project? Register for free for this online magazine and we keep you up to date on the developments within Pon Power.

JOOST SCHAPENDONK

Director Marketing & Technology
Pon Power

GREEN MARITIME METHANOL PROJECT

One of those initiatives is participation in the Green Maritime Methanol Project, in which Pon Power and knowledge institutions, fellow engine suppliers, the methanol industry, class societies and shipping companies examine the possibilities of methanol as a shipping fuel. We asked Joost Schapendonk, Marketing & Technology Director at Pon Power, about the ins and outs of this project

JOOST SCHAPENDONK

Director Marketing & Technology Pon Power

“ We’re currently converting an engine so that it can run on 100% methanol.”

WHICH WILL BE FOLLOWED BY THE INTRODUCTION OF A CAT METHANOL ENGINE?

‘That’s not our primary ambition right now, but it could be a possible outcome someday. The main aim is to learn and to generate data from which we together with our customers can make the right choices in these challenging but exciting times. Caterpillar is also involved in this project with us and they are, very interested in the various solutions for helping Customers reduce emissions.’

METHANOL

PROJECT

Pon Power News

The online magazine of Pon Power, the Caterpillar dealer for diesel and gas engines and generators. In this magazine we keep you up to date on the latest projects, new products & services and technical innovations.
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