Efficient methanol logistics are essential for the competitiveness of low-carbon fuels, and NextFuel partners have now completed a detailed assessment of practical distribution models for future biomethanol production sites.
The study compares transport by bunkering vessel, road tanker, and site-integrated pipeline systems, revealing how different site types — harbours, industrial parks and hybrid locations — shape the optimal logistics strategy.
Key takeaways from the analysis include:
- Bunkering vessels (2,000–3,000 tonnes) emerge as a powerful enabler for maritime customers, especially deep-sea vessels requiring large quantities of methanol ship-to-ship.
- Road tankers offer a flexible and cost-effective solution for short distances, particularly when large harbours are located near inland industrial parks.
- Pipeline connections within industrial areas can streamline operations, reduce truck traffic, and integrate production units with shared storage infrastructure.
- Local offtake reduces costs significantly compared to routing methanol to major European hubs.
These findings reinforce the importance of site selection and regional partnerships in shaping the economics of green methanol. They also highlight the strong potential for combining logistics efficiency with emission reductions, particularly when supplying ports that are already seeing rising demand for low-carbon marine fuels.
The NextFuel consortium will continue refining logistics design as part of its FEED activities and collaboration with port authorities, shipowners and chemical distributors.
This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 101136225.
