In continuously developing the range of services for its portfolio of four-stroke engines, MAN Energy Solutions enables its customers to exploit a multitude of synthetically manufactured, climate-neutral fuels in the operation of ships or power plants. Already today, MAN engines using power-to-X fuels such as synthetic natural gas (SNG) can be operated totally climate-neutrally.
MAN customers will in due course be able to use other, so-called 'future fuels' –such as ammonia, methanol and hydrogen – also produced in a climate-neutral manner. While these fuels are not currently available on the market, their use in MAN units will, however, be possible through the incipient start-up of green-fuel production facilities. These, in turn, will further reduce harmful emissions and reliably meet future, stricter environmental requirements and regulations.
"Green future-fuels are key to the decarbonization of shipping," said Marita Krems, Head of the Four-Stroke Marine Engines Division at MAN Energy Solutions, outlining the importance of the issue. "By 2050, greenhouse gas emissions in ship transport must decrease by at least 50%. We will therefore make future-proof solutions available to our customers, which will make the diversified use of green fuels possible – both for new engines and engines in the existing fleet."
Even today, MAN customers can fall back on the use of biofuels as ship fuel in order to reduce emissions. "Sustainably produced biofuels, for example those derived from waste woods, can reduce CO2 output by up to 85%," said Krems. "In 2022, we will offer engines that are designed for later conversion – if required – to methanol operation. From 2024, we will make solutions for the use of methanol in four-stroke engines available."
The company also has its sights firmly set on the use of ammonia. Krems said: "In container ships with a two-stroke engine, ammonia will certainly play a decisive role and such an engine will be available from 2024. When it comes to the four-stroke segment, we have already discussed the relevance of this fuel in great detail with our customers. Cruise ships or ferries, for example, are basically floating cities and have especially high safety standards. Here, we only see options for ammonia’s use if initial, positive operating experiences have been gathered in other segments."
