Swiss marine power company WinGD will offer the first ethanol-fuelled two-stroke marine engine next year, with deliveries for newbuild and retrofit applications set to begin in 2027.
The announcement follows a decade of investigation into ethanol fuel and the successful launch of a methanol-fuelled engine that uses the same combustion concept and is subject to the same safety regulations as the new ethanol engine.
The new engine will be adapted from the X DF-M methanol-fuelled engine, which has received strong feedback from first users and class societies approving the design.
The diesel-cycle concept will feature an adapted control system and fuel injector nozzle arrangement to account for the higher energy density of ethanol and the consequently lower fuel volumes required.
WinGD has been studying ethanol fuel, which has a similar combustion and emissions profile to methanol, since 2014, beginning with a project financed by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy.
Ethanol can be produced renewably from biomass and is prevalent at a competitive price in some national markets, driving interest in the new fuel.
According to the company, it is in discussions with several ship owners, ethanol fuel suppliers, and class societies regarding the first commercial applications of the engine. WinGD stated that it would reveal when the engine will be optimised for ethanol or optimised for methanol with secondary ethanol capability at a later date.
WinGD also recently became a founding member of the Global Ethanol Association to connect key enablers in the ethanol value chain.
“Our early ethanol explorations were crucial to the successful development of our X DF-M methanol engine, and now both are enabling the rapid commercialisation of the first ethanol-fuelled two-stroke engine. As global emission regulations are set to be passed, we’re pleased to be able to offer a further lower carbon alternative to ship owners and operators,” said Sebastian Hensel, WinGD VP of research and development.
