Ahti Climate Research: E-Methanol and HFO Mix for FuelEU Compliance

Ahti Climate, a Finnish pool start-up, has conducted research suggesting that a mix of e-methanol and HFO can help make fleets compliant with the European Union’s FuelEU Maritime regulations. These regulations, part of the ‘Fit For 55’ package, aim to reduce the EU’s net greenhouse gas emissions by at least 55% by 2030 and achieve climate neutrality by 2050. The new regulations require all ships entering EU waters to comply with carbon intensity limits on emissions, increasing the demand for renewable and low-carbon fuels.

Ahti Climate runs a FuelEU-compliant pool that compensates owners of low-emissions ships for their excess allowance, while helping owners of more polluting vessels avoid heavy penalties. The company uses AI-enabled algorithms and energy data sets to find the lowest cost of compliance for vessels. According to their calculations, using one e-methanol ship could make 70 HFO-burning vessels compliant with the regulations, as the e-methanol has a much lower carbon intensity compared to HFO.

Despite the high costs of low-carbon fuels, Ahti Climate believes that pooling compliance within a fleet using an optimized mix of low-carbon and traditional bunkers on different vessels can bring additional benefits under the FuelEU Maritime regulations. The company’s CEO, Risto-Juhani Kariranta, highlights the importance of optimizing vessel operations to avoid penalties under the regulations, emphasizing the long-term benefits of using low-carbon fuels. Ahti Climate’s research suggests that a small percentage of a ship’s energy coming from e-methanol or biodiesel can make it compliant with the regulations, providing a competitive advantage for companies that adapt to the new requirements.

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