A Sustainable Methanol Ship Fuel Supply Chain for the Maritime Industry: Developing a Framework through a Systematic Literature Review Exploring the Technological, Economic, and Regulatory Challenges for a Sustainable Methanol Ship Fuel Supply Chain (SMSFSC)
Abstract
The maritime industry faces increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adopt sustainable fuel alternatives. Methanol has emerged as a promising candidate due to its low emissions profile, compatibility with existing infrastructure, and potential for carbonneutral production. This thesis aims to develop a conceptual framework for a sustainable methanol ship fuel supply chain (SMSFSC) by conducting a systematic litterature review. The focus is on the well-to-tank supply chain, encompassing sustainable methanol production, transport, storage, and bunkering.
This review reveals that there are various methods for producing methanol from sustainable sources, and that the choice of production method depends on factors such as cost of feedstock and resource availability. Methanol transport and storage are found to be possible to integrate into existing infrastructure, with modifications where needed to accommodate methanol. This includes the development of bunkering facilities and the retrofitting of existing systems.
By synthesizing the existing research, a coherent overview of a sustainable methanol ship fuel supply chain (SMSFSC) is provided, highlighting the importance of considering factors such as feedstock availability and energy efficiency when constructing or adapting supply chains to facilitate the use of methanol as a ship fuel. A conceptual framework for developing a sustainable methanol ship fuel supply chain is presented, developed from the findings of the review.