<p>In a world-first for the maritime sector, the containership, ‘ElbBLUE’, owned by German shipowner Elbdeich Reederei and operated by charterer Unifeeder, has bunkered some 20 tons of green Synthetic Natural Gas at the Elbe port in Brunsbüttel in Germany. MAN Energy Solutions held a ceremony to mark the event, which marks the first time ever that synthetic fuel, generated from 100% renewable energy via power-to-X technology, has been employed in commercial shipping. </p><p>Formerly known as the ‘Wes Amelie’, the 1,036-teu feeder container ship previously made headlines in 2017 when its MAN 8L48/60B main engine was retrofitted to its current, four-stroke MAN 51/60DF unit to enable dual-fuel operation. The first such conversion of its type globally, it showed that existing engines could be converted to LNG operation with a tremendous effect on exhaust emissions and the environment. The ElbBLUE sails in the North and Baltic Seas.</p><p>Power-to-X is a number of electricity conversion, energy storage, and reconversion pathways that use surplus electric power, typically during periods where fluctuating, renewable-energy generation exceeds load. Power-to-X conversion technologies allow for the decoupling of power from the electricity sector for use in other sectors.</p>
<p>In a world-first for the maritime sector, the containership, ‘ElbBLUE’, owned by German shipowner Elbdeich Reederei and operated by charterer Unifeeder, has bunkered some 20 tons of green Synthetic Natural Gas at the Elbe port in Brunsbüttel in Germany. MAN Energy Solutions held a ceremony to mark the event, which marks the first time ever that synthetic fuel, generated from 100% renewable energy via power-to-X technology, has been employed in commercial shipping. </p><p>Formerly known as the ‘Wes Amelie’, the 1,036-teu feeder container ship previously made headlines in 2017 when its MAN 8L48/60B main engine was retrofitted to its current, four-stroke MAN 51/60DF unit to enable dual-fuel operation. The first such conversion of its type globally, it showed that existing engines could be converted to LNG operation with a tremendous effect on exhaust emissions and the environment. The ElbBLUE sails in the North and Baltic Seas.</p><p>Power-to-X is a number of electricity conversion, energy storage, and reconversion pathways that use surplus electric power, typically during periods where fluctuating, renewable-energy generation exceeds load. Power-to-X conversion technologies allow for the decoupling of power from the electricity sector for use in other sectors.</p>