Partners in methanol - two well-known marine engine designers co-operate to develop systems for at least one potential future fuel

Alfa Laval and WinGD set up a joint programme at the recent SMM exhibition in Hamburg to develop fuel supply systems for WinGD’s methanol engines.

Dominik Schneiter - Vice President R&D at WinGD

Dominik Schneiter - Vice President R&D at WinGD

The agreement comes a month after Alfa Laval’s FCM Methanol was chosen as the low flashpoint fuel supply system (LFSS) on six dual-fuel container vessels - the largest order of methanol systems this year.

The company says it has now been selected for more than 30 methanol projects by major shipowners.

For WinGD, Alfa Laval will provide an FSS designed for its two-stroke engine and fuel injection technology using methanol as fuel. It will also provide the control system, fuel valve train and auxiliary functions such as the purging system.

A prototype will be delivered for testing at WinGd’s facility in Winterthur, Switzerland, with an agreement that Alfa Laval will be the approved manufacturer and supploer of tghe product that results from the testing. The agreement also allows for futher cooperation in ammonia for engines by 2025.

Peter Nielsen, President, Marine Separation & Heat Transfer Equipment at Alfa Laval

Peter Nielsen, President, Marine Separation & Heat Transfer Equipment at Alfa Laval

“Many of the vessels purchased today will be sailing in 2050, so the engine solutions for carbon-neutral methanol cannot wait,” said Dominik Schneiter, Vice President R&D, WinGD. “To bring reliable solutions quickly to WinGD customers, we need a knowledgeable partner in the fuel supply application. We are confident in the expertise Alfa Laval will bring to this collaboration.”

“Strategic partnerships like this one with WinGD are the fastest, most certain path to shipping decarbonization,” said Peter Nielsen, President, Marine Separation & Heat Transfer Equipment, Alfa Laval. “To reach the goals within the time frame the climate demands, we as marine technology leaders must pool our expertise.”

”Together we are moving swiftly to enable the use of clean fuels,” said Schneiter. “When preparing new vessels, shipowners today can plan for methanol and ammonia, knowing that WinGD engine technology will be ready when it comes time to build.”