Ethanol as an Alternative to Methanol

This week MarineLink reported that the Global Ethanol Association (GEA) has officially launched as an independent, non-profit international organization headquartered in Switzerland.

GEA’s first flagship program is the Marine Fuel Sector Initiative, an industry led effort to transform ethanol’s market potential into commercial reality and establish it as a cornerstone of the sustainable marine fuel mix.

Sylvain Zurcher, Co-Founder & President of the GEA, notes that the US is one of the world’s largest ethanol producers with strong infrastructure already in place. “This gives US shipowners a unique opportunity to access competitively priced, low-carbon fuel early and demonstrate leadership in sustainable shipping.”

So, what are the benefits of ethanol as a fuel for commercial shipping? Zurcher says:

Wide availability and competitive pricing: Ethanol is produced in large volumes globally, especially in the US, Brazil, and Europe, with supply sufficient to support near-term maritime demand. It also offers a lower price point and higher energy content compared to methanol.

Infrastructure and engine compatibility: Ethanol is compatible with existing methanol dual-fuel marine engines and can be implemented with only minor recalibrations, specifically ethanol optimized injection valves and software updates. It can also be bunkered and handled