Green Revolution in Shipping: The Promising Rise of Methanol Engines and Japan 2 Earth’s Coverage

The shipping industry is prioritizing decarbonization as an urgent goal. Companies are moving away from traditional heavy fuel oil to alternative fuels like LNG, methanol, ammonia, hydrogen and others. The switch to alternative fuels in ship engines is crucial for reducing carbon emissions.

Hitachi Zosen Marine Engine (HZME), a subsidiary of Hitachi Zosen located in Kumamoto Prefecture, is partnering with MAN Energy Solutions, a leading German industrial engine manufacturer, to develop technology for retrofitting engines to run on green methanol. They are also working on manufacturing methanol engines in-house.

HZME is making progress on both the development of conversion technology and engine production. The company has received an order from MAN for a test methanol engine, and verification trials are set to take place from September to November 2024 at HZME’s Ariake plant in Kumamoto.

Green methanol technology has the potential to revolutionize the shipping industry by providing a cleaner and more sustainable fuel source. Learn more about this innovative technology and its benefits by reading the full story on Japan 2 Earth (J2E). J2E is an affiliated website that explores the journey towards a sustainable future and provides insights on environmental issues and the challenges of achieving the SDGs.