Liquefied bio-methane is from animal manure or lignocellulosic feedstocks. The feedstock undergoes anaerobic digestion and upgrading processes or gasification and catalytic methanation processes to produce methane. The methane is then liquified.
| Resources | Production | Bunkering and ports | Handling and storage onboard | Propulsion |
| Animal manure, lignocellulosic feedstocks | Anaerobic digestion, upgrading, gasification, catalytic methanation, liquefaction | Storage tanks at ports, bunkering systems (barges, pipes, ship2ship) | Cryogenic tanks | Internal combustion engine |
The readiness level view shows Technology on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 9 (highest), and both Investment and Community on a scale from 1 (lowest) to 6 (highest). In the supply chain view all figures are displayed on a percentage basis to allow like for like comparison, against a scale in 10% increments.
| Technology | Rating | Description | Justification | Challenge |
| Resource | 7 | Low scale pilot production demonstrated | Pilots have been demonstrated, however current supply would not meet shipping demands. |
Strong demand signals are needed to stimulate scale-up of supply for shipping. |
| Production | 2 | Technology concept formulated | Anaerobic digestion and liquefaction is well established (manure feedstock), however production of ligno methane has not been demonstrated beyond concept stage. |
Liquefaction and transportation challenges need to be addressed, although the investment case needs to be proven before technology development will continue for ligno methane as a marine fuel.
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| Bunkering and ports | 7 | Low scale pilot production demonstrated |
Bunkering and port infrastructure are in place and proven with LNG, however liquid bio-methane and liquefied e-methane supply chains for shipping do not yet exist |
Fuel supply chains need to be scaled for shipping |
| Onboard handling and storage | 9 | Production and product fully operational | The technology is fully operational and proven with LNG, and directly transferrable with pure methane | Fuel supply chains need to be scaled for shipping, and will use existing operational infrastructure and technology. |
| Propulsion - combustion engine | 9 | Production and product fully operational | The technology is fully operational and proven with LNG, and directly transferrable with pure methane. | This technology needs to be refined to eliminate or at least mitigate methane slip. |
| Propulsion - fuel cells | 6 | Pre-preduction product | This technology has been developed and is being tested by manufacturers. Solid Oxide Fuel Cells already deliver some of the power required onboard the MSC World Europa cruise ship using LNG, although the technology is also compatible with e- and bio-methane, as well as other (near) zero carbon fuels. | Manufacturers need to further demonstrate scaled-up functionality in maritime conditions through pilots. |
| Investment | Rating | Description | Justification | Challenge |
| Resource | 1 | Hypothetical commercial proposition | No commercial trials as yet |
Signals need to be provided to investors that show a stable, attractive market, in order to stimulate scale-up of supply
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| Production | 1 | Hypothetical commercial proposition | There are no commercial trials yet of liquefaction and transportation of methane |
The liquefaction process needs to be proven economically viable, and environmental policy will need to change to stimulate demand and investment
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| Bunkering and ports | 1 | Hypothetical commercial proposition | No commercial trials as yet |
Increased demand from for methane (rather than LNG) as a fuel is needed, although investment at ports will be minor as the infrastructure already exists for LNG.
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| Ship | 5 | Market competition driving widespread development | Investment climate for liquefied methane vessels, same as LNG, has fallen as a result of environmental trends. |
Sustainable methane production needs to be proven to scale up. |
| Community | Rating | Description | Justification | Challenge |
| Resource | 3 | Early stage solution formation to tackle stakeholder issues |
Community concerns exist around land requirements for feedstock, and regulatory framework for lifecycle assessment is insufficient to enable the use of biomass derived fuels |
Community acceptance is subject to the assessment and mitigation of sustainability implications, such as deforestation and negative impacts from land use changes for feedstock harvesting, and global regulatory framework for lifecycle assessment requires further development and adoption to enable the use of biomass derived fuels. |
| Production | 1 | Stakeholder support or opposition is hypothetical | Resource and production have been proven, however regulatory framework for lifecycle assessment is insufficient | Global regulatory framework for lifecycle assessment requires further development and adoption. This includes addressing concerns around methane emissions in production of bio-methane, and accounting for methane slip in combustion. |
| Bunkering and ports | 5 | Market competition driving widespread development |
Storing LNG is proven and accepted, with regulations in place. The evidence and regulations are directly applicable to liquefied pure methane |
Policy is needed to stimulate investment in zero-carbon fuels such as methane.
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| Ship | 2 | Stakeholder support or opposition is becoming understood as a result of pilots | Although Methane (natural gas) is a normative gaseous/low-flashpoint fuel, its methane emissions when used in internal combustion engines is not regulated and proposed solutions are not yet proven. | IMO non-CO2 GHG emission guidelines will increase confidence in liquified methane systems. Additionally, communities need to be educated on the comparative analysis (against alternative fuels) of other emissions affecting the crew. |
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Zero Carbon Fuel Monitor
