Breakthrough in Methanol Fuel Cell Technology for Maersk Ships Enhances Maritime Decarbonization

Blue World Technologies, based in Denmark, has reported successful results with 200kW fuel cells and methanol, which could potentially lead to the installation of new technology on Maersk ships. This breakthrough could also help address one of methanol’s biggest challenges. The use of fuel cells for producing auxiliary power on ships, utilizing methanol, LNG, or ammonia as fuel, is seen as the next logical step in the industry. A pilot project is set to install a 1MW fuel cell system on one of Maersk’s methanol vessels in 2026.

Fuel cells have the potential to achieve significantly higher efficiency than traditional engines by converting chemical energy into electrical energy without the intermediate heat phase. This increased efficiency could result in a fuel efficiency gain of 20%-30%, leading to an overall electrical efficiency of 55%. Blue World Technologies claims that fuel cells also allow for “up to 100% carbon capture,” a feat that is not possible with engine exhaust due to the energy required.

Dennis Naldal Jensen, Chief Technology Officer at Blue World, hailed this development as a major breakthrough in maritime decarbonization. The successful test of the 200kW system with methanol fuel processor and fuel cell stacks has shown the potential of high-temperature polymer electrolytic membrane (HT PEM) fuel cell technology. While fuel cells are still in the early stages of adoption in the shipping industry, there is much potential for improvement and development as more resources are dedicated to advancing the technology.

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