MAN Energy Solutions said that measurements were taken on 1,036-teu boxship ElbBLUE as it operated on a 50/50 mix of liquified natural gas (LNG) and synthetic natural gas (SNG, also known as e-LNG, synthetic LNG) on a voyage from Germany and Rotterdam.
GHG emissions were 27% lower than running on conventional LNG, and 34% lower than running on heavy fuel oil, said MAN ES.
The SNG used in the trial was created at a power-to-gas plant in Wertle, Germany, where 100% renewable energy is used to combine CO2 and Hydrogen to form the fuel. The plant generates its own green hydrogen, which is then methanised using CO2 from the waste gas stream of a neighbouring biomethane plant.
SNG production is a means of storing excess energy from renewable power sources in a form easily used by existing gas infrastructure including pipelines, power stations, engines and boilers.
Dr Uwe Lauber, CEO of MAN Energy Solutions, said: "With this project, we have proven the technical viability of our concept of the maritime energy transition. Today, more than ever, we are convinced that climate-neutral, synthetic fuels point the way to green shipping – and even further beyond.”
Dr Lauber said that the war in Ukraine has brought higher prices for LNG, highlighting the potential future benefits of SNG including lower price fluctuations and less reliance on natural resource deposits.
“If production capacity can be built up quickly and synthetic fuels made available to the market, SNG could become a climate-friendly and – in the long term – economical alternative to fossil fuels in shipping,” said Dr Lauber.
Stefan Eefting, Senior Vice President and Head of MAN PrimeServ Augsburg, said: “With this pilot project, we have proven that any LNG-powered ship can also operate with green SNG from power-to-X. Even with a blend of just 50% SNG, GHG and pollutant emissions are significantly reduced. When operated exclusively on SNG, we would expect a reduction of at least 80% in GHG emissions for modern ships.”
The companies also stressed the benefits of gas operation on other emissions, with ElbBLUE nitrogen oxide emissions (NOx) down almost 87%, and sulphur oxides (SOx) and particulate emissions almost eliminated (~99%).
ElbBLUE has a history of firsts in green shipping; it was the first containership to run on dual-fuel gas operation after an engine conversion in 2017 and was the first boxship to bunker SNG in September 2021.
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