Aero-engine manufacturer and propulsion specialist Rolls-Royce has successfully tested the world’s first high-speed marine engine powered exclusively by methanol. The milestone development occurred at the company's test bench in Friedrichshafen, Germany, developed with partners in the meOHmare research project.
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"This is a genuine world first," said Dr. Jörg Stratmann, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG. "To date, there is no other high-speed engine in this performance class that runs purely on methanol." He added that the company had been investing in "future technologies" such as methanol propulsion in order to serve its client base and "open up efficient ways to reduce CO2 emissions".
The joint project is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and combines the expertise of Rolls-Royce, injection system specialist Woodward L’Orange, and the WTZ Roßlau technology and research centre. The goal is to develop a comprehensive concept for a CO2-neutral marine engine based on green methanol by the end of 2025.
Rolls-Royce explained that this success was in spite of the "new challenges" that methanol provides – unlike diesel, liquid alcohol does not ignite spontaneously and requires a "completely new" injection technology. "We have fundamentally redesigned the combustion process, the turbocharging and the engine control system, and even adapted our test bench infrastructure," explained Dr. Johannes Kech, head of Methanol Engine Development in the Power Systems division at Rolls-Royce. "Initial tests show that the engine is running smoothly – now it’s time for fine-tuning."
Green methanol is considered one of the most promising alternative fuels for shipping, providing easy storage, biodegradability, significantly fewer pollutants and the possibility of CO2-neutral operation.
"With this successful test run, we are sending a clear signal: green methanol is a future-oriented fuel – and the technology for it is here," added senior vice president Denise Kurtulus. "The single-fuel methanol engine is an attractive solution, especially for operators of ferries, yachts or supply vessels who want to reduce their carbon footprint. The task now is to create the framework conditions for wider use."
At the same time, Rolls-Royce is working on a dual-fuel concept that can use both methanol and diesel, until green methanol is widely available.