Evergreen and CIP to explore production of green shipping fuels

Taiwan-based shipping company Evergreen Marine Corporation (Evergreen) has partnered with investment firm Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners (CIP) to explore "production and usage of carbon-neutral e-fuels."

PHOTO: An Evergreen vessel berthed at Kaohsiung Port. Evergreen

The two companies will explore production of e-fuels in Taiwan based on offshore wind, Evergreen said. The duo will also explore a broader supply of green fuels like e-ammonia and e-methanol.

E-methanol, or synthetic methanol, is produced using 100% biogenic carbon dioxide (CO2) and green hydrogen. The biogenic CO2 is typically captured through either bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) or through direct air capture (DAC).

E-methanol produced by this method is virtually free of greenhouse gases and can cut a vessel's CO2 emissions by 95% compared to conventional marine fuels on a well-to-wake basis.

Taiwan offers ideal conditions for offshore wind projects coupled with a robust regulatory environment to support production of alternative marine fuels. The country "has the potential to become a producer of the future fuel types," the shipping company said.

Evergreen has more than 200 container ships in its fleet, for which decarbonisation efforts would require a range of different fuel types. Through this new partnership with CIP, the shipping firm aims to explore and develop these fuels. CIP already has a foothold in Taiwan, constructing and developing offshore wind farms across the country.

“CIP already has a strong footprint in Taiwan and we are looking forward to working with Evergreen to further support Taiwan's ambition of realising 2050 net zero goal,” CIP’s partner Felix Pahl said.

By Manjula Nair

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