Germany-headed technology major MAN Energy Solutions SE has announced that South Korean companies Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries Co. (HSHI) and HJ Shipbuilding & Construction Co. (HJSC) have ordered seven and two MAN B&W G80ME-LGIM dual-fuel engines respectively in connection with the construction of nine 9 000 TEU container vessels for HMM Co.Ltd.
The engines, which are capable of operation on green methanol and conventional fuel oil, represent the first order for the G80 bore size; they will also feature MAN Energy Solutions’ proprietary Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) systems.
The newbuilds will be delivered to HMM from 2025 and will operate on routes to North and South America as well as India.
The G80 engines will, upon delivery, be connectivity-ready and prepared for digital services such as PrimeServ Assist.
This world-first order for a G80 methanol engine is just a continuation of the general market trend toward methanol where the ME-LGIM engine has become the de facto industry standard for large, methanol-fuelled, merchant marine vessels. At MAN Energy Solutions, we expect further projects for this size of container vessel to be specified with our G80 methanol engine within the near future. As such, methanol is quickly becoming the most prominent alternative fuel in the container vessel segment, said Bjarne Foldager, SVP and Head of Low-Speed, MAN Energy Solutions.
Increasing methanol production
Along with the new order, HMM has also signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with multiple fuel suppliers to ensure the methanol supply for the vessels.
In this regard, according to the Methanol Institute (MI), more than 80 renewable methanol projects globally are projected to produce more than 8 million tonnes of e-methanol and biomethanol annually by 2027.
Renewable methanol is a low-carbon and net carbon-neutral liquid chemical and fuel produced from sustainable biomass, often called bio-methanol, or from captured carbon dioxide and hydrogen produced from renewable electricity, referred to as e-methanol.
In addition to the growing number of projects, MI reports clear evidence that bio-methanol and e-methanol facilities are ramping up production.
With ongoing advancements in technology and increased government support, it expects the annual capacity of individual renewable plants to rise from 5 – 10 000 tonnes of methanol to 50 – 250 000 tonnes or more annually over the next five years.
Our thanks for this significant order go to HMM, whose commitment and partnership we value greatly. This new order means that we now have over one-hundred ME-LGIM engines on order or in service. In our open project pipeline, container vessels make up around 61 percent, followed by both tankers and bulk carriers with 17 percent, and general cargo makes up the remaining 5 percent. MAN Energy Solutions’ methanol engines are a proven concept that combines well with methanol’s unique selling points as a fuel that includes its easy storage, and simple auxiliary systems, and not to forget that green methanol is entirely carbon-neutral, said Thomas S. Hansen, Head of Promotion and Customer Support, MAN Energy Solutions.
