Methanol has gained some foothold as an alternative fuel for commercial ships, but has been largely marginalized in other transport sectors, including leisure watercraft. British design firm Chartwell Marine is planning a new leisurely course for the fuel with the help of a £320,000 (US$400,000) government grant and a partnership with shipbuilder Archipelago Expedition Yachts. Together, the two companies will develop her Zero.63, an eight-passenger catamaran that can travel thousands of miles while burning only methanol, a clean-burning alternative to diesel and gas.
Chartwell bills itself as a pioneer in next-generation vessel design and its portfolio spans various segments from commercial to leisure to offshore wind support. He was awarded a £320,000 Innovate UK Smart Grant for the purpose of applying methanol propulsion technology to new types of vessels. The company has chosen to renew its existing relationship with Archipelago in the development of Methanol his leisure yacht.
Chartwell and Archipelago see methanol boats as a natural alternative to battery-powered electric ships, which have very limited range. Methanol’s energy density is less than half that of marine diesel oil (MDO), but it offers much higher density than batteries, giving Zero.63 sea-going capability and an estimated range of 2,000 nautical miles (3,700 km). That’s it.
archipelago yacht
Since methanol is a liquid at ambient temperature, it is also fairly easy to store and distribute as a marine fuel. Archipelago says it is available through tanker delivery to major ports and believes methanol bunkering will become more common as the commercial marine industry continues to expand its decarbonization efforts.
“For this project, we wanted to cut some of the noise that is being made about electric and hydrogen propulsion, which is not ready for practical implementation on leisure ships. I feel,” explains Dr. Stephen Weatherley, managing director of Archipelago. Announced earlier this month. “Methanol is an all-inclusive alternative fuel for us as a sustainable, practical and adventurous company, and we are proud to have it at the heart of our latest product to market. .”
Zero.63 uses methanol in two different ways. Twin Enmar direct-injection methanol engines power the boat, while a methanol-to-hydrogen fuel cell system powers the residential loads. A dedicated ‘methanol room’ houses up to 300 kW of fuel cell power and batteries. The plan also calls for a 431-square-foot (40-square-meter) solar charging array on the roof.
An evolution of Archipelago’s 47 catamaran, the new 63 footer (19 m) floats on a dual aluminum hull. The elevated wet deck is designed to eliminate wave slamming on the high seas for smoother, more agile navigation. The Zero.63 has a top speed of 18 knots (33 km/h).
archipelago yacht
The “zero” part of the name and the developer’s claim of a “zero carbon” impetus can be misleading and require a bit of qualification. Methanol emits less CO2, particulates, nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides and burns cleaner than traditional fuels like marine diesel. However, methanol continues to be sourced primarily from natural gas, and its lifecycle emissions can be higher than conventional marine fuels.
Methanol sourced from renewable sources such as agricultural and forestry waste could dramatically reverse these figures in favor of methanol, although biomethanol supply partners are not mentioned. , Zero.63 owners are likely to procure the most readily available and costly. – Effective – Methanol derived from natural gas. But perhaps, driven by a deep-seated need to fully appreciate the value of a green yacht, Zero.63 owners will struggle to source greener methanol.
That said, Zero.63 is intended more as a proof-of-concept and early experimentation in potential alternative marine applications for methanol than as an immediate breakthrough revolution in green yachting. And if the renewable energy-focused methanol production ecosystem grows, it could lay the groundwork for a clean class of methanol-fueled long-distance exploration yachts. Or it could just be a niche experimental vehicle, Gumpert’s Natalie for the high seas.
“We believe that the Archipelago Zero.63 is not only a complete first-to-market product in its own right, but also a perfect proof-of-concept for the future application of methanol propulsion technology in the offshore wind sector,” said Director of Chartwell. says Andy. Added page.
Pricing has yet to be announced, but the smaller Archipelago 47’s £1.2 million (around US$1.5 million) base price for 2023 gives buyers an idea of the ballpark they’ll be playing in. For those not ready to go all-in on methanol, Archipelago also offers a 63-footer with a diesel powertrain.
Source: Chartwell and the Archipelago
