In Germany, Rolls-Royce has successfully tested the world’s first high-speed marine engine powered solely by methanol. The engine, developed under the meOHmare project with Woodward L’Orange and WTZ Roßlau, ran on the test bench in Friedrichshafen and marks a technical breakthrough for methanol propulsion at commercial speeds.
The prototype required a full redesign of the combustion system, turbocharging, injection, and engine controls to account for methanol’s low auto-ignition properties. Development began in early 2023 with funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy. A commercial concept is expected by the end of 2025.
Rolls-Royce is also working on a dual-fuel version, but the pure-methanol test confirms that a single-fuel configuration can deliver reliable performance in high-speed marine settings. The target market includes ferries, patrol craft, and workboats that need compact powertrains and lower emissions without shifting to slower engine classes.
More on the story
Category: Sustainable Marine Fuels
