Germany-based containership owner Hapag-Lloyd has struck a long-term deal to buy 250,000 t/yr of blended biomethanol and e-methanol from Chinese wind turbine maker and project developer Goldwind.
The deal lasts for more than 10 years and is legally binding, Hapag-Lloyd told Argus.
Goldwind will supply Hapag-Lloyd with a smaller volume initially in 2026 and ramp up to 250,000 t/yr in late 2027. Hapag-Lloyd expects the initial volumes to largely fulfil demand from the five dual-fuel methanol ships it will operate from 2026, it said.
Goldwind earlier this year started building a 500,000 t/yr plant in Hinggan League, northeast China.
The so-called "hybrid" plants will make biomethanol and e-methanol, and Goldwind plans to add a second 500,000 t/yr plant in 2027, the shipowner said. Hapag-Lloyd's deal is for volume from the second plant, it added.
The ratio of e-methanol in the deal is 30pc but could be raised to 50pc in the plant's lifetime, Hapag-Lloyd said. The fuel ensures greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions of at least 70pc to comply with current sustainability certification requirements, Hapag-Lloyd said.
This is likely to refer to the FuelEU Maritime definition of low-carbon fuels as cutting GHG emissions by 70pc compared with fossil benchmarks.
Goldwind previously struck a deal to supply 500,000 t/yr of the sustainable methanol mix to Danish shipping and logistics firm Maersk from 2026.
While methanol appears to be gaining momentum, shipowners are pursuing a range of fuels for future fleets. Hapag-Lloyd last month ordered 24 dual-fuelled LNG containerships for a combined $4bn.
