Rolls-Royce: "World's first" pure methanol marine engine aces test

Power and propulsion solutions provider Rolls-Royce has completed testing of what is said to be “the world’s first” high-speed marine engine powered exclusively by methanol.

Together with its partners in the meOHmare research project, Rolls-Royce conducted the trial on its test bench in Friedrichshafen, marking “an important milestone on the road to climate-neutral and environmentally friendly propulsion solutions for shipping”.

The joint project meOHmare is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and includes Rolls-Royce, injection system specialist Woodward L’Orange, and the WTZ Roßlau technology and research center. The goal is to develop a comprehensive concept for a CO2-neutral marine engine based on green methanol by the end of 2025.

Green methanol is considered one of the most promising alternative fuels for shipping due to its CO2-neutral operation if produced using electricity from renewable energies in a power-to-X process.

“For us, methanol is the fuel of the future in shipping – clean, efficient, and climate-friendly. It burns with significantly lower emissions than fossil fuels and has a high energy density compared to other sustainable energy sources,” said Denise