The Society for Gas as a Marine Fuel (SGMF) has released a new Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) focusing on methanol as a marine fuel, emphasizing its potential for reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through renewable and synthetic production methods. The assessment evaluates 15 different methanol production pathways, revealing that those utilizing renewable energy can significantly lower emissions.
This publication follows SGMF’s earlier assessments, including the third edition of the LNG LCA and the first ammonia LCA, both aimed at providing stakeholders with a thorough, science-based comparison of alternative marine fuels’ emissions performance. The methanol LCA was conducted by WSP and aligns with SGMF’s previous studies, incorporating data from various engine types, such as medium-speed 4-stroke and low-speed 2-stroke engines.
Acknowledging the rapid advancements in alternative fuels, SGMF emphasized the need for regular updates to ensure future assessments reflect the latest technological developments and GHG intensity data. The report also highlighted that additional production-specific pathways, including co-processing methods, could present further opportunities for emissions reductions and merit additional evaluation.
