Life Cycle Assessment of Methanol from Fossil, Biomass, and Waste Sources, and Its Use as a Marine Fuel in Dual-Fuel Engines

Journal Article · Thu Oct 23 00:00:00 EDT 2025 · Environmental Science & Technology

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.5c08873· OSTI ID:3014867

Masum, Farhad ^[1]; Tan, Eric ^[2]; Kolodziej, Christopher ^[1]; Hawkins, Troy ^[1]

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1. Argonne National Laboratory
2. National Laboratory of the Rockies, Golden, CO (United States)

Methanol is gaining interest in the marine sector from energy security and reducing emissions perspective. This study provides a comparative life cycle assessment of methanol as a marine fuel, across GHG and criteria air pollutant emission metrics, when it is used in a dual-fuel engine. Twelve methanol pathways from four different feedstock categories were considered, including (1) cellulosic biomass-forest residues and clean pine mix, corn stover, switchgrass, and miscanthus; (2) organic wastes-renewable natural gas from wastewater sludge, swine manure, food waste, and landfill gas; (3) fossil resources-coal and natural gas (NG); and (4) e-methanol using captured carbon dioxide. When used in a dual-fuel engine with pilot fuel, life cycle GHG emissions for woody biomass-based methanol were approximately 19 gCO2e MJ-1, while emissions from waste-based sources ranged between -154 and 31 gCO2e MJ-1. Methanol from renewable sources showed a GHG reduction potential between 58 and 226% compared to conventional NG-based methanol (122 gCO2e MJ-1), primarily due to the avoided emissions from conventional waste management. When carbon from process emissions were captured, the reduction could be up to 327%. All pathways exhibited lower NOX, and particulate matter emissions compared to the baseline marine fuel (MGO 0.1% sulfur), while woody biomass and coal pathways had higher SOX emissions.

• Research Organization: National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), Golden, CO (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Transportation Office. Bioenergy Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 3014867
• Report Number(s): NLR/JA-5100-95895
• Journal Information: Environmental Science & Technology, Journal Name: Environmental Science & Technology Journal Issue: 43 Vol. 59
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

09 BIOMASS FUELS
biomass gasification
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maritime transport
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