SEA-LNG: LNG as bunker fuel ‘misunderstood’, methane slip issue ‘completely overplayed’
- Published
by Admin
The use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a bunker fuel, which started out strongly as a transitional fuel for supporting shipping’s decarbonisation initiative, has gradually been misunderstood due to misinformed marketing campaigns, believes the Chief Operating Officer of SEA-LNG.
“This methane slip issue has been completely overplayed by certain players and environmental groups,” Steve Esau told bunkering publication Manifold Times.
“Depending on who you talk to, they cherry pick data from LNG engines which are between 10-15 years old and don’t make allowances for LNG engine technology which is developing.”
According to Esau, the LNG industry recognises methane slip and has developed engines which effectively have no methane slip; these engines already make up for more than 50% of the current orderbook.
Current low pressure LNG engines, however, still suffer from reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. As such, the LNG industry has banded together to create the Methane Abatement in Maritime innovation initiative (MAMII) in 2023 to develop even more solutions to deal with methane emissions.
“In the first year of operation, MAMII is looking at how to measure methane slip accurately. Now, they are at technology scanning phase to evaluate various technologies to calculate and verify methane slip,” he shared.
Esau, meanwhile, clarified all other alternative marine fuels have worse well-to-wake emissions when compared to LNG on an even playing field.
“All bunker fuels including LNG share a common pathway to decarbonisation where you start first with fossil-based, followed by bio, and then ‘e’ versions,” he explained.
“When people talk about alternative marine fuels they often speak of the blue or green versions and compare these versions with grey LNG – which is not comparing apples to apples.
“That’s the frustrating thing.”
Moving forward, Esau notes the timeline for ‘e’ fuels such as renewable synthetic LNG, chemically identical to fossil LNG, to be similar with ‘e’ versions of other alternative marine fuels.
“The end road for all fuels, including LNG, are e-fuels; it’s all about producing the green hydrogen which takes up between 70% to 80% of the cost for electric fuel. With it, you can produce whatever you like,” he concludes.
Photo credit: SEA-LNG
Published: 29 April 2024
