Methanol for decarbonization of the maritime sector: From ideological strategy to practical solutions

The growing concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution from maritime transport have led to increasing interest in researching cleaner and more sustainable fuel options. Thus, this work presented the feasibility, limitations, and potential benefits of using methanol as a sustainable alternative fuel for marine engines. This work examined various methanol production and application aspects, such as production processes, needs, infrastructure and availability, engine performance and emission characteristics, and cost. In the first stage, this work highlighted the importance of methanol in ocean shipping to achieve decarbonization goals and assessed the infrastructural availability for supplying methanol to ships. In the next stage, the methanol production process's input sources and critical characteristics were evaluated entirely. Also, the methanol properties and applications in marine engines under various strategies were comprehensively analyzed. In the third stage, the methanol cost for different production approaches and applications was scrutinized. The problems and possibilities for bunkering and storage facilities when using methanol for maritime engines were also thoroughly analyzed. Finally, the challenges and solutions for the methanol application for marine engines were critically presented. Overall, the present work provided a comprehensive assessment of the potential role of methanol in the maritime sector, aiming to establish sustainable maritime practices. More importantly, this work intends to inform policymakers, academics, and industry stakeholders about the prospects and challenges of using methanol as an alternative fuel for marine engines with a view to the decarbonization strategy and Sustainable Development Goals of the maritime sector.