Everllence successfully runs dual-fuel engine on ethanol

German engine maker Everllence (formerly MAN Energy Solutions) has successfully run its methanol dual-fuel four-stroke engine on ethanol at its Frederikshavn test site in Denmark.

IMAGE: Everllence’s methanol dual-fuel marine engine. Everllence

The engine performed on ethanol across all load points — the various power levels used to assess an engine’s performance, efficiency and fuel consumption.

This successful trial gives Everllence a fully functional platform to demonstrate ethanol’s potential as a marine fuel.

“This engine platform has shown great promise when burning alternative fuels and, during testing, we even managed to expand the ethanol fuel-share compared with methanol,” Everllence’s senior manager Rasmus Frimann Nielsen said.

Ethanol’s growing role

Ethanol is rapidly emerging as a preferred alternative fuel among shipowners.

Earlier this month, Danish carrier A.P. Moller–Maersk announced plans to test an E50 blend—50% ethanol mixed with 50% methanol—on one of its dual-fuel containerships. This comes after Maersk successfully trialled an E10 blend (10% anhydrous ethanol and 90% e-methanol) on the Laura Maersk vessel during October and November.

In September, Swiss engine maker WinGD said it will introduce an ethanol-capable engine next year, with commercial availability for both newbuilds and retrofits from 2027. Also in the same month, Everllence demonstrated ethanol operation on its 90-bore methanol dual-fuel engine during tests in Japan.

By Tuhin Roy

Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online