The strategic objectives of METHAPU project are as follows:
- Assess the maturity of methanol using technology on board a commercial vessel.
- Validate marine compatible methanol running solid oxide fuel cell technology.
- Innovate necessary technical justifications for the use of methanol on board cargo vessels involved in international trade in order to support the introduction of necessary regulations to allowing the use
of methanol as a marine fuel. - Assess short-term and long-term environmental impacts of the application.
- Enable future research activities on larger marine compatible SOFC units and methanol based economy.
This specific targeted research project aims to validate methanol technology on board a cargo vessel involved in international trade. In addition to that, another major aim is to innovate necessary technical
justifications for the use of renewable methanol on board commercial vessels in order to support the introduction of necessary regulations to allowing the use of methanol as a marine fuel. The specific components of the technology to be validated are methanol fuel bunkering, distribution, storage system and methanol consuming SOFC unit.
The consortium is made up of world-class players in the field of fuel cell system integration, sustainable shipping, classification work and environmental assessment. The project is to take two and a half-year, of which one year is dedicated to the validation of the application. The regulations and technical justifications for the use of methanol as a fuel would serve to pave the way for commercial use of methanol consuming fuel cells on board commercial vessels.
Furthermore, this research project serves as the springboard for future research activities related to sustainable society, specifically on new greener marine power sources and methanol based economy.