biofuels

Methanol Reformer To Deliver 1st Autonomous eMethanol Power Generation Container for Ferries in Europe

Methanol Reformer, a Catalan company specialized in sustainable energy solutions, will deliver to Baleària the first autonomous e-methanol power generation container in Europe. This initiative positions Baleària as the first ferry operator on the continent to trial this technology on an electric ferry.  
Baleària Ferry
Courtesy of Methanol Reformer

During the visit of Baleària’s technical team to Methanol Reformer’s facilities, the system underwent technical verification and the Factory Acceptance Test (FAT), confirming its proper operation and readiness for shipment to the ferry operator, where commissioning will take place in the coming weeks. 

The container combines electricity generation from hydrogen produced via e-methanol reforming with a modular, compact, and autonomous design, suitable for both port and maritime environments. The electricity generated will support the operation of the electric ferry Cap de Barbaria, complementing battery charging and turning the vessel into a real-life testbed to validate the use of renewable hydrogen onboard under operational conditions. 

The hydrogen produced by the system will feed a fuel cell generating auxiliary electricity to support battery charging and reduce reliance on conventional generators, lowering fuel consumption and emissions.

The system incorporates the L18 hydrogen generator, manufactured by Methanol Reformer under license from the U.S. company Element1®, in collaboration with E1 Marine for maritime applications. This integration ensures high standards of reliability, safety, and performance.

“We are proud to collaborate with Baleària on this pioneering project, which turns the Cap de Barbaria into a real-life testbed to validate hydrogen generation from e methanol onboard. This initiative demonstrates how technological innovation can transform maritime mobility, boost energy efficiency, and accelerate the decarbonization of short-distance transport,” says Javier Torres, Managing Director of Methanol Reformer.

With this initiative, Methanol Reformer consolidates its position as a benchmark in sustainable energy solutions for the maritime industry. The project will enable Baleària to evaluate e-methanol as a flexible energy vector for onboard hydrogen generation, a key solution to accelerate the decarbonization of short-distance maritime transport. 

Baterías con premio en la gran feria europea del almacenamiento de energía
El jurado de la feria ees (la gran feria europea de las baterías y los sistemas acumuladores de energía) ya ha seleccionado los productos y soluciones innovadoras que aspiran, como finalistas, al gran premio ees 2021. Independientemente de cuál o cuáles sean las candidaturas ganadoras, la sola inclusión en este exquisito grupo VIP constituye todo un éxito para las empresas. A continuación, los diez finalistas 2021 de los ees Award (ees es una de las cuatro ferias que integran el gran evento anual europeo del sector de la energía, The smarter E).