Raizen, the world’s largest producer of sugarcane ethanol, and Wärtsilä, a leader in maritime transportation propulsion, are partnering to test ethanol as a fuel option for vessels, reported Reuters.
Wartsila, headquartered in Finland, is already known for producing dual-fuel engines for ships that can efficiently run on both gasoil and methanol. The central objective of their partnership with Raizen, a Brazilian company, is to explore the feasibility of using ethanol as an alternative fuel source within these engines.
In light of mounting concerns over the environmental impact of maritime transportation, the industry has committed to substantial reductions in its carbon footprint. Specifically, they have set ambitious targets to slash carbon emissions by 40% by 2030 and a more profound 70% reduction by 2050. However, it’s important to note that only a limited number of vessels currently possess engines capable of running on fuels other than oil-based ones.
