A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) and Equinor have agreed to a pact that ensures the supply of sustainable methanol for Maersk’s new and innovative vessel in its early months of operation, starting from September 2023 until the first half of 2024.
This agreement secures the vessel’s supply from its launch on a route from Northern Europe to the Baltic Sea, following the christening ceremony taking place later this month in Copenhagen, with green methanol being supplied in Rotterdam.
Alex Grant, Senior Vice President of Equinor’s liquid commodities segment, expressed, “We are very pleased to collaborate with Maersk in supplying more sustainable fuels for the shipping industry. Equinor is an established player in the European methanol market, with a production plant in Tjeldbergodden, and has ambitions to become a leading provider in the maritime fuels sector.”
Where does biomethanol come from?
Biomethanol is produced from biogas derived from manure, converted into biomethane, and then further processed into methanol. The process utilizes existing biogas certification infrastructure in Europe to trace the origin of biomethane to biomethanol, avoiding duplication of claims.
This enables production in already existing facilities, contributing to a more sustainable gas network and reducing methane emissions that would otherwise be released from untreated manure. Biomethanol is certified by ISCC EU, in compliance with the EU Renewable Energy Directive.
Rabab Boulos, Director of Infrastructure at A.P. Moller – Maersk, emphasized the importance of this partnership: “We are delighted to partner with Equinor as we enter this business sector. It is crucial to engage major energy companies and begin providing future fuels at scale. This is the kind of involvement we need to continue accelerating the pioneering journey towards a sustainable fuels economy for global transportation.”
In the long term, the methanol-powered ship will be supplied with e-methanol from a facility in southern Denmark operated by European Energy, expected to start operations in the first half of 2024.
