Propulsion Of Ships with E-Methanol In favour of the Decarbonisation Of Naval transport

Informazioni relative al progetto

POSEIDON

ID dell’accordo di sovvenzione: 101117616

DOI

10.3030/101117616

Data della firma CE 23 Giugno 2023

Data di avvio 1 Settembre 2023

Data di completamento 31 Agosto 2027

Finanziato da

• Climate, Energy and Mobility

Costo totale

€ 11 868 392,50

Contributo UE

€ 9 663 172,39

Coordinato da

EIFER EUROPAISCHES INSTITUT FUR ENERGIEFORSCHUNG EDF KIT EWIV
Germany

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - POSEIDON (Propulsion Of Ships with E-Methanol In favour of the Decarbonisation Of Naval transport)

Periodo di rendicontazione: 2023-09-01 al 2025-02-28

Sintesi del contesto e degli obiettivi generali del progetto

The overall goal of the POSEIDON project is to prepare the implementation of local value chains based on e-methanol as fuel for shipping in the ports of Valencia and Thessaloniki. POSEIDON’s main objectives are as follows:
1. to build and test an innovative TRL7 e-methanol pilot plant based on a novel concept,
2. to establish two communities of practice in Thessaloniki and Valencia to collect feedback and strengthen collaboration at local level,
3. to assess impacts of the value chain implementation through detailed technical, economic, environmental and social studies,
4. to develop roadmaps outlining the steps to be taken to implement the value chain in Valencia and Thessaloniki and in other EU ports after project end,
5. to promote public acceptance of the POSEIDON solutions by regularly sharing project progress and achievements with academia, industry, policy makers.
Results produced by POSEIDON should lead to the following long-term impacts:
• Efficient renewable fuel technologies to produce e-methanol and use it on-board vessels,
• E-methanol value chain implementation in the ports of Thessaloniki and Valencia,
• Enabling environment for e-methanol as fuel in shipping,
• Increased social acceptance for alternative fuels in EU.

Lavoro eseguito dall’inizio del progetto fino alla fine del periodo coperto dalla relazione e principali risultati finora ottenuti

During the first reporting period (RP1), four main activities started and are in progress:
1. Value chain requirements and communities of practice: the e-methanol value chain was mapped, a survey on the decarbonization of the maritime sector was conducted to identify barriers and opportunities, POSEIDON use cases scenarios (three for each port) were defined and will be further investigated, a report on state of art technologies composing the e-methanol value chain was drafted; work on data collection and model descriptions required for assessments and tool development was started, communities of practice were established in Valencia (26 members) and Thessaloniki (25) and first workshops took place aiming at collecting feedback, tests of membranes for CO2 capture were performed in laboratory,
2. Building of e-methanol pilot plant: detailed engineering of the e-methanaol pilot plant was finalized integrating feedback from quality assurance study, digital twin of pilot plan was developed, purchases of main equipment started (like pressure vessels), construction strategy was fine-tuned,
3. Adaptation of e-fuel test platform: protocols for test campaigns including gas compositions and test parameters were developed, basic engineering study was completed, several tenders for civil, electrical and mechanical works were launched and will allow to have a detailed design of the platform and start the adaptation works, building permit was granted,
4. Value chain assessment: methodologies for economic, technical, environmental and social studies including KPIs and data needs were defined, development of the value chain modelling tool was started: user story and user interface were developed and presented to partners
The next reporting period (RP2) will focus on the demonstration activities, evaluation of scenarios for the two case studies of Valencia and Thessaloniki and the start of the business modelling and replication tasks.

Progressi oltre lo stato dell’arte e potenziale impatto previsto (incluso l’impatto socioeconomico e le implicazioni sociali più ampie del progetto fino ad ora)

POSEIDON project will produce several results which are expected to follow different exploitation routes (scientific, business, other). As part of the project exploitation activities, 50 results have been defined as having an exploitation potential. They can be classified in five main categories: 1. Framework and methodologies (e.g. e-methanol value chain maps), 2. Data, models and tools (e.g. digital twin of the e-methanol plant), 3. Value chain assessment (e.g. local deployment roadmaps for Valencia and Thessaloniki), 4. Engineering (e.g. TRL 7 modular e-methanol plant) and 5. Results of demonstration (e.g. results from engine tests).

The main outcome to be reached after the completion of the project is the implementation of local value chains based on e-methanol as fuels in the ports of Thessaloniki and Valencia. This step will be based on the local roadmaps developed within POSEIDON. The implementation of both roadmaps will require committed consortiums, financial resources in the form of private and public fundings, and an enabling environment at both ports (e.g. favourable regulations, strong local e-fuel market characterised by long-term offtake agreements and reliable fuel supply, a skilled workforce, and fleet of vessels equipped with e-methanol compatible engines) which is key to ensure future uptake and success.

Once this step is successfully completed ant e-methanol is adopted as a marine fuel in the two ports, the next challenge will be to replicate POSEIDON’s concept to other locations at other EU ports. For this, several barriers need to be overcome. POSEIDON conducted a survey on challenges and opportunities related to alternative fuels in shipping at the end of 2024. 53 respondents participated in the survey and indicated what in their opinion is the most important action (from a pool of 6 possible replies) to support the adoption of alternative fuels to decarbonise the maritime sector. The results are as follows 1. establishment of fleet conversion programmes (cited as a top priority by 24% of respondents), 2. development of alternative fuel infrastructure (22%), policy reforms other than carbon pricing (20%), more investment in fuel production capacity to increase the availability and reduce the price of fuel (16%), R&D projects needed to advance the state of the art and to test and qualify innovative solutions (12%), and finally the introduction of carbon pricing mechanisms (4%).