Everllence, a marine engine developer, and Vale have signed a cooperation agreement to develop ethanol as a marine fuel, targeting a commercially viable alternative to conventional fossil-fuel engines.
The partners will work on an advanced ethanol-powered engine based on Everllence’s B&W ME-LGI (Liquid Gas Injection) platform. The project is aimed at delivering a propulsion solution that combines emissions reductions with competitive operating economics by leveraging ethanol’s fuel properties.
Ethanol offers lifecycle carbon benefits compared with traditional marine fuels and contains no sulphur, while also being biodegradable and of low toxicity. As it is liquid at ambient temperatures and pressures, it can be handled using standard bunkering and onboard procedures, potentially simplifying operations compared with some alternative fuels.
The initiative aligns with Vale’s multifuel strategy to increase flexibility across its affreighted fleet and support greenhouse-gas reductions. The companies said the agreement builds on their longstanding relationship and shared ambition to advance lower-emission shipping technologies.
Everllence has already carried out ethanol testing across its engine range, including the successful operation of a two-stroke ME-LGIM engine in Japan and a four-stroke dual-fuel generator set in Denmark in 2025. The new collaboration is intended to support Vale’s fleet expansion plans with scalable, future-ready engine technology and further develop ethanol as a practical marine fuel option.
