Can Rolls-Royce's Methanol Engine Change the Transport Game?

Rolls-Royce has successfully tested the world's first high-speed marine engine powered exclusively by methanol at its demonstration facility in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

The engine was developed as part of the meOHmare research project, a collaboration between Rolls-Royce, injection system specialist Woodward L'Orange and the WTZ Roßlau technology and research centre.

The project has been funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy and was established with the aim of delivering a comprehensive concept for a CO₂-neutral marine engine based on green methanol by the end of 2025.

The development required lateral thinking and several fundamental redesigns of core engine systems. Methanol presents some unique challenges to engineers when compared with conventional fuels like diesel.

Unlike diesel, liquid methanol does not ignite spontaneously, which means that it requires a completely novel kind of injection technology.

"We have fundamentally redesigned the combustion process, the turbocharging and the engine control system – and even adapted our test bench infrastructure," explains 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."

Could Rolls-Royce's new engine impact the market?

The single-fuel methanol engine is positioned for operators of ferries, yachts and supply vessels seeking to reduce their carbon footprint.

"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," says Denise Kurtulus, Senior Vice President Global Marine at Rolls-Royce.

Denise says that the team's task now is to create the conditions for a wider use of the technology.

Rolls-Royce is simultaneously developing a dual-fuel concept capable of running on both methanol and diesel, intended as a bridging technology until green methanol becomes widely available.

Rolls-Royce's decarbonisation strategy

The project supports Rolls-Royce's 'lower carbon' strategic pillar within its multi-year transformation programme. Dr. Jörg Stratmann, who is CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG, believes that the development represents a genuine world first in engineering.

"To date, there is no other high-speed engine in this performance class that runs purely on methanol," he says.

"We are investing specifically in future technologies in order to open up efficient ways for our customers to reduce CO₂ emissions and further expand our leading role in sustainable propulsion systems."

Methanol as marine fuel

Green methanol is produced using electricity from renewable energies in a power-to-X process, making its operation CO₂-neutral. Methanol has some real practical advantages compared with other sustainable fuels too, being both easy to store and biodegradable.

Storage has been a problem in renewable energy since time immemorial, so having a low-carbon fuel that can be stored in bottles or canisters makes the transition from gas or oil all the easier.

"For us, methanol is the fuel of the future in shipping – clean, efficient and climate-friendly," Denise explains. "It burns with significantly lower emissions than fossil fuels and has a high energy density compared to other sustainable energy sources."

It is still early days, but this development could be a significant moment in the maritime sector's journey to decarbonisation.

As with all sustainable power projects, the widespread adoption of green methanol will depend on the availability and accessibility of infrastructure, not to mention the government regulations and incentives that follow.