UK and Swedish decarbonisation companies are joining forces to produce carbon-neutral methanol as fuel for ships.
Carbon Clean and Liquid Clean will combine their carbon capture and renewables expertise to supply the green fuel from 2024, they said.
UK-based Carbon Clean aims to capture CO2 emissions from a Swedish industrial site.
This will then be transferred to a Liquid Wind plant, where the CO2 will be combined with renewable hydrogen to form liquid e-methanol, the companies said.
Emissions slashed
When used as bunkers, this product will cut emissions by 94% compared to fossil fuels.
A new plant will be built in Ornskoldsvik, on the north-east coast of Sweden.
Once operational, the fuel facility will "upcycle" 70,000 tonnes of CO2 into 50,000 tonnes of e-methanol per year.
This will prevent 100,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year, the two sides said.
And there are big ambitions for future sites. In Sweden, there are plans for 10 Liquid Wind plants by 2030.
Liquid Wind wants to have 500 operational sites globally by 2050.
The project is backed by Haldor Topsoe, Siemens Energy and Alfa Laval, among others.
Compelling idea
Carbon Clean chief executive Aniruddha Sharma said: "Carbon-neutral fuel is an incredibly compelling prospect, and it’s exciting to partner and have invested in another high-growth business in Liquid Wind to help further accelerate the reduction of total carbon emissions."
Sharma said the company has already been successfully deploying its carbon capture technology at industry sites.
Liquid Clean chief executive Claes Fredriksson added that it is essential the two companies work together to produce a cost-competitive fuel.
"We are impressed by Carbon Clean's approach and expertise, and look forward to working closely with the team to reduce the ... cost of e-methanol production," he said.
Ireland-based tanker owner Ardmore Shipping has formed a new joint venture this year to produce hydrogen for fuel cells using conventional methanol, and hopes to use green methanol in the future.
