Corn ethanol could find a new market in marine shipping

Ethanol could become a viable fuel for ocean-going vessels and create a major new market for corn producers. This is according to a report by the National Lab of the Rockies, which assessed the technical, economic and environmental potential of ethanol for marine shipping.

Researchers estimate that the existing fleet of methanol dual-fuel vessels alone could consume around 2 bln gallons of ethanol annually under high-substitution scenarios.

Ethanol has properties similar to methanol, while offering lower emissions and lower toxicity. In the event of a spill, it dissolves quickly and accumulates less in the environment than conventional petroleum-based fuels.

Industry representatives believe that even partial adoption of ethanol in shipping could create billions of gallons of new demand and provide an additional long-term market for US corn producers.

The report notes that broader use of ethanol as a marine fuel will depend on closer cooperation between biofuel producers and shipping companies, as well as further research and practical deployment of the technology.

Tags: corn, ethanol, marine fuel