US Ethanol Could Fuel Methanol-Ready Ships, Study Finds

Ethanol could be used to fuel a growing fleet of methanol-capable ships with limited modifications to existing dual-fuel engines and bunkering infrastructure, offering an alternative as supplies of low-emission methanol remain constrained, according to a new industry study.

The study, published by the Maritime Ethanol & Methanol Alliance (MEMA), a platform of the Global Centre for Green Fuels (GCGF), found that ethanol could support more than 300 methanol-capable vessels currently in service or on order, either independently or blended with methanol.

The United States has approximately 2 billion gallons of spare annual ethanol production capacity, with plants capable of producing 18.5 billion gallons compared with output of 16.4 billion gallons in 2025, the report said.

The country produces just over half of the world's fuel ethanol and exports to around 80 countries, largely through Gulf Coast terminals that also serve as major bunkering hubs.

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