Methanol and Ammonia Take Big Step Forward as Future Shipping Fuels

Two fuels once considered experimental are now emerging as real contenders for cutting carbon in the shipping industry, according to a new report from the Global Maritime Forum’s Getting to Zero Coalition.

The study, From Pilots to Practice: Methanol and Ammonia as Shipping Fuels, draws on input from about 40 major industry players. It concludes that methanol is already being used at a small commercial scale, while ammonia is close to proving itself through pilot projects. This marks a major leap since the coalition’s first review in 2020, when both fuels were still seen as largely theoretical.

Shipping accounts for around 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and the industry has set targets to scale up clean fuels from 2030. The report stresses that meeting these goals depends on strengthening supply chains, boosting production of “green” methanol made from renewable sources and creating safe bunkering facilities for ammonia at key ports.

“We’ve seen remarkable progress, but readiness isn’t the same as scale,” Jesse Fahnestock, director of decarbonization at the Global Maritime Forum, said in a press release. “Technology alone won’t get us there. We need action from governments, regulators, and industry to set the right conditions for growth.”

Methanol is already powering more than 60 ships, with 300 more on order. It is considered relatively straightforward to adopt, though access to green methanol remains limited. Ammonia, meanwhile, has shown promise in engine tests and early pilot vessels, with trials suggesting emissions cuts of up to 95%.

The report calls for stronger policies, investment in bunkering infrastructure, and global standards to speed adoption. With the right support, both fuels could play a central role in shipping’s transition to zero emissions.

Source: globalmaritimeforum.org