Recently, Elkem reached an agreement with NCL (North Sea Container Line AS) to charter two new methanol-powered container vessels from the latter party to replace the three diesel-powered vessels currently in use, to contribute to reaching carbon peak and carbon neutrality. The agreement has also made NCL the first Norwegian container ship operator to put a methanol-powered vessel into operation.
The methanol-powered container ships will make maritime logistics safer, more efficient and more environmentally friendly by following Elkem’s climate roadmap and sustainability plan. The key to this mode of operation is the use of green methanol, which extracts and captures carbon dioxide from renewable energy sources, as fuel to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more than 45% or even 100%, compared to conventional fuels. It also reduces nitrogen oxide emissions by 80% and eliminates sulfur oxide and particulate emissions.
NCL is a comprehensive container logistics company with a large transport network in Europe and Norway. Elkem owns 40% shares of NCL. The project has been supported with NOK 13.7 million from the Enova Fund of the Norwegian Ministry of Climate and Environment and NOK 60 million from the NOx Fund of the Norwegian Ministry of Trade and Industry for emissions reduction.