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Marinelink – Written by Barry Parker Read the full article here

e1 Marine is excited to announce that it will be attending the International Workboat Show. The show, which brings together industry leaders to demonstrate the latest innovations in the workboat sector, will be held in New Orleans on 01 – 03 December. Managing Director, Robert Schluter and Commercial Director, Maite Bolivar Klarup, will join Maritime Partners at stand 3017. The partners will be on the ground to meet fellow attendees and showcase e1 Marine’s methanol to hydrogen generator technology, with the M-Series M18 model displayed for the first time publicly. The M18 hydrogen mobile generator system can provide direct, on-demand pure hydrogen (99.97%) for PEMFC power systems, while consuming 35% less energy than a traditional diesel generator, with zero particulates, zero NOX, and zero SOX emissions. The methanol to hydrogen generator is also up to 84% efficient, when combined with a PEM fuel cell, efficiencies between 42% to 50% are generated in comparison to an internal combustion engine. As part of the conference, Robert will also participate in a panel discussion as part of the International Workboat Show’s ThinkThank program, alongside, Anthony Odak, Chief Operating Officer, John W. Stone Oil Distributor LLC, Matt French, General Manager, Transportation, ARTCO, Stergios Stamopoulos, Sustainability Manager, American Bureau of Shipping and Dhaval Mehta, Director, Business Development, North America, American Bureau of Shipping. Titled, ‘Sustainability in the US Inland Waterway Market’, discussion will focus on the unique challenges and opportunities that will be consequent of effectively decarbonizing the US workboat sector. You can watch Robert speak on the panel on 02 December, 12:00 – 13.10 (EDI) at the show. With the US recently announcing a set of steps to accelerate investment across its ports, waterways and freight networks as part of a $1.2trn bipartisan infrastructure bill, and the majority of workboats currently non-compliant with emerging environmental global standards, the industry is set to undergo serious change. e1 Marine is proud to have pioneered a technology that will form part of the solution. Safe, environmentally superior and cost competitive, the technology, when combined with a PEM fuel cell, enables the effective, economical delivery of hydrogen onboard inland waterway vessels. The hydrogen generated from the technology can be used to either produce electricity or as a source of propulsion on the vessel. As one-third of the hydrogen produced by the technology comes directly from water, the technology can reduce CO2 emissions by a minimum of 35% at a competitive price. Likewise, by eliminating NOx, SOx and PM emissions, the solution offers a sustainable and low-emissions replacement for traditional internal combustion engines in the workboat sector. If you would like to arrange to meet with the team at International Workboat Show to discuss e1 Marine’s methanol to hydrogen generator technology, please contact us at: info@e1marine.com.

“The shipping industry is looking at fuel flexible propulsion systems as a way of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while taking advantage of the dynamics of new fuel availability. In pursuit of this goal, methanol offers both immediate solutions and long-term benefits. Ship propulsion is evolving beyond the IMO 2020 sulphur cap’s need to be able to switch to lower sulphur fossil fuels. The idea is to enable shipowners to stay ahead of the future requirements of the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) and to take advantage of future decarbonisation technologies as they mature. It’s becoming increasingly clear that hydrogen is going to be shipping’s future fuel and methanol is the premier way to deliver it onboard safely and efficiently.” Our Commercial Director, Maite Klarup considers whether methanol could be the ‘missing link’ in shipping’s evolution to a low emissions future in a recent Bunkerspot article. Read the article on pages 88-89. Vol. 18, Issue 5 of the Bunkerspot Magazine.

Join e1Marine at the International WorkBoat Show Conference and Expo held at the Ernest N. Morial Conventional Centre – New Orleans, LA on December 1st – 3rd 2021. e1Marine will be at Booth #3017.

e1 Marine, the developers of unique methanol-to-hydrogen technology for the marine sector, has today announced that it has appointed a new Managing Director, Robert Schluter. A former US Naval officer, and Co-Founder and President of Element 1, Robert’s experience combines a deep knowledge of methanol, hydrogen, and fuel cell technology. Robert’s insight and experience of both the inland waterways and international shipping markets marries fresh thinking on low carbon innovation with a deep knowledge of the issues and challenges in the markets e1 Marine operates within. Robert’s appointment comes after Stuart Crawford, Managing Director, e1 Marine, had to stand down from his position due to personal reasons. Robert Schluter commented: “I am excited and feel very privileged to take on this role. Whereas fuel cell technology has matured substantially over recent decades, the supply of hydrogen as feedstock to fuel cells has lagged considerably. Through the use of our methanol to hydrogen generation technology we can solve these challenges, and enable the marine world to cost competitively meet the IMO’s emissions mandates – even without a global carbon tax. “Importantly, this is where our joint venture partners Ardmore, Maritime Partners and Element 1 provide unique access to existing markets in international shipping as well as ports and inland waterways.” e1 Marine is committed to playing a pivotal role in shipping’s energy transition; taking an open, transparent, and consultative approach to working with partners in order to manage and accelerate change in the maritime industry.

Zero carbon fuels are going to transform our industry, but they are not the only part of the equation and they’re not yet viable at scale. Every tonne of CO2 that we avoid releasing into the atmosphere is one less tonne that we have to remove in the decades to come. This is why investment in clean tech and energy efficiency are needed from shipowners, charterers, and maritime regulators immediately, and why we’ve signed this collaborative call to action. Together, we are calling for shipping’s stakeholders and regulatory authorities to expand their sustainability focus and attention. Long term innovation, research and the development of alternative fuels are key to decarbonise the maritime sector, but they are not the whole solution. Shipping needs to integrate the available ship efficiency and renewable propulsion technologies into their roadmap immediately. With the right support from investors and regulation, energy efficiency and renewable propulsion technology can inspire more ambitious targets and innovation. This will ensure that shipping can continue as the lynchpin of a low-carbon global economy. Robert Schluter, Managing Director, e1 Marine said: “It has been a few years since I served at sea, but unfortunately many of the working practices that existed when I started my career remain broadly similar now. Fortunately, there are commercially proven technologies available that can reduce emissions and improve OPEX today. We will only be able to go further when we have zero carbon fuels. However, widespread adoption may be many years from now – time that our planet doesn’t have.” Maite Klarup, Commercial Director, e1 Marine also commented: “This collaboration is a testament to the variety of solutions available today that can make your maritime operations more sustainable, more efficient, and more reliable. Fuel cells, for example, can already be more than twice as efficient as internal combustion engines. But if we’re to achieve the emissions reductions this climate crisis needs, then investment is required now.” You can read the full open letter here .

Global renewable energy company, e1 Marine, today announced the appointment of Maite Klarup as its Commercial Director. Klarup brings more than 20 years of leadership experience from her time at BIMCO, THOME Group, Nordana, and WISTA across shipping markets in North and South America, Europe, and Southeast Asia. Klarup will lead the implementation of e1 Marine’s commercial strategy as it seeks to enable the fourth energy revolution in shipping through its methanol-to-hydrogen generator technology. Maite Klarup, Commercial Director of e1 Marine, commented, “Previous energy revolutions, as we’ve moved from rowing to sails to steam and to diesel, have taken centuries and decades to effect. However, we don’t have the option of waiting that long now. In the last few months businesses as diverse as Trafigura, Torvald Klaveness, and the Port of Rotterdam have recognised that our maritime future will be hydrogen-powered – and it’s time for the rest of shipping to get on board.” Klarup continued, “The cleanest, most realistic fuels for the future of shipping are hydrogen-based, and e1 Marine’s hydrogen generator, when combined with a PEM fuel cell, makes that a near-term reality. Even while running on standard methanol our hydrogen generator produces zero particulates, zero NOX, zero SOX emissions, and 28% less CO2 than a diesel generator. With future efficient carbon capture it can even become CO2 negative.” Stuart Crawford, Managing Director of e1 Marine, commented, “We are extremely pleased to welcome Maite to the e1 Marine team. Her extensive experience and passion for shipping will be integral to our ability to deliver on the promise we make in our vision to drive positive change in shipping. By using our methanol reformation technology we enable direct, onboard generation of hydrogen, solving the current hydrogen transportation and storage issues and positioning the marine world on the path to meeting the IMO mandates on emissions’ targets.” E1 Marine was formed as a reaction to a market in need of affordable, effective, and easily implemented decarbonisation solutions. The e1 Marine Methanol Reformer enables the transportation of hydrogen in the form of methanol. This reformation onboard uses a combination of methanol and water as the feed stock, and consequently increases the hydrogen to carbon ratio by a further 33.33%, resulting in a price competitive and efficient hydrogen delivery solution. Moreover, because this mixture is so dense in hydrogen, and the reformation process so efficient, it becomes cost-effective even before carbon tax.

Tanker owner reveals how analyst helped forge methanol-to-hydrogen alliance. Sometimes it really is who you know, not what you know. Although in the case of Ardmore Shipping’s methanol-to-hydrogen joint venture e1 Marine, it was probably a bit of both. Two years ago, the Ireland-based product tanker owner was “scratching its head” as it pondered the implications of clean technology for shipping. So it turned to former Wells Fargo shipping analyst Mike Webber, now the head of Webber Research & Advisory. Ardmore chief executive Anthony Gurnee says: “I always like to say Mike has the ability to see around corners. When he left Wells Fargo he got very involved in clean technology.” As the shipowner developed its energy transition plan, it was relying on Webber for research and advice, and eventually engaged him to help identify partnerships, which led to Dave Edlund’s US technology company, Element 1. Edlund says: “We had engaged with Mike in order to find strong partners in the heavy-duty transportation space at about the same time Mike and Ardmore were talking about clean-energy technology. Part of it was talking to the right people and asking the right questions, and part of it was good timing.” A first demonstration by e1 Marine is due this year. “There’s been a tremendous amount of interest coming in and several prospects that look quite serious at this point,” Edlund says. Gurnee says there are already green methanol plants in operation, with many more planned or under construction. Siemens, the European Union and ABB are aiming to put large green methanol facilities at the southern tip of Chile and Argentina to take advantage of the near-constant wind there. “Hydrogen can be made there, but it is hard to transport, very expensive and has a very high carbon footprint when you transport it,” Gurnee cautions. “It’s impractical to make green hydrogen at remote locations and move it to where you need it.” e1 Marine, which is soon to announce two or three hires, including a managing director, will have its own staff based in Vancouver, Canada. That has the advantage of being close to Element 1 in Oregon, as well as methanol producer Methanex and fuel cell maker Ballard Power Systems. Gurnee adds: “There are a lot of interesting things happening in the Pacific North West.” Meanwhile, Trafigura and MAN Energy have announced they are teaming up to produce an ammonia engine. “The perfect match for that ship would be to use the Element 1 system for the generators,” Gurnee adds. However, he won’t be drawn on any contact with the group. “We have a lot of discussions going on, but it’s early days.”

Written by David Edlund, Ph.d.* and David Lim, Ph.D Element 1 Corp.