A new report from the US National Lab of the Rockies (NLR) concludes that ethanol is technically, economically and environmentally viable as a low-carbon fuel for ocean-going vessels, Michigan Farm News reported.
The report estimates that the methanol dual-fuel ships already operating could consume roughly two billion gallons of ethanol a year under high-substitution scenarios, making marine shipping a potentially significant new market for ethanol producers.
"Ethanol has advantages that few other potential marine fuels do. Its robust compatibility with methanol infrastructure, its overall scalability, and its environmental benefits make it uniquely suited to help the shipping sector achieve its goals," said the report's author, NLR senior research fellow Robert McCormick, who hopes it will encourage collaboration between ethanol producers and shippers and further study.
Industry groups welcomed it. Emily Skor, chief executive of the biofuels association Growth Energy, said US ethanol could have a potentially transformative impact on the maritime sector, and the U.S. Grains and BioProducts Council said even modest adoption could create billions of gallons of new demand, a long-term market for corn growers.
Photo: Martin Dorsch / Wikimedia Commons (CC0)
Source: Michigan Farm News
Comments
(0)