MAN, Stena and Proman sign methanol retrofit MoU

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MAN Energy Solutions, Stena and Proman have signed an MoU to retrofit MAN 48/60 engines to run on dual-fuel diesel/methanol.

Under the terms of the agreement, the partners will assess the viability of running the engines on diesel and methanol. If the feasibility study is successful, a second phase would see the engines retrofitted, commissioned, and tested, with the potential for commercialisation in stage three.

The deal has been struck between MAN Energy Solutions and Stena’s in-house R&D outfit Stena Teknik along with methanol producer Proman. Stena and Proman have multiple projects underway around developing methanol as a marine fuel.

Stefan Eefting, Head of PrimeServ Germany, signed the MoU on behalf of MAN Energy Solutions, and said: said: “Methanol has great potential as a future-fuel and is clean, efficient and safe to work with. It offers significant greenhouse-gas reductions, and is even net-zero when produced from renewable energy sources. I’m certain that many interested parties will be watching this retrofit’s progress.”

The MoU’s primary aim is to look at methanol combustion under the otto combustion principle, and methanol injection technology for retrofits and methanol direct injection for newbuilds.