Japan Engine Corporation (J-ENG) has begun development of a methanol-fuelled marine engine, the company said.
The move follows the completion of J-ENG’s first ammonia-fuelled engine earlier this year and comes alongside ongoing work on a hydrogen-fuelled engine. J-ENG said experience from these projects will help speed up development of the methanol engine, with completion targeted within fiscal year 2027.
Methanol is increasingly viewed as a lower-carbon marine fuel, offering reductions in greenhouse gas emissions as well as air pollutants such as sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter. J-ENG also highlighted methanol’s ease of handling, as it remains liquid under normal conditions, making it suitable for a wide range of vessel types.
The company said the project supports efforts to cut emissions in shipping and contribute to the industry’s longer-term goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.
