**4. Methanol**

Methanol (CH3OH) is the purest alcohol, consisting of a methyl group (CH3) linked with a hydroxy group (OH). It boils at 65°C and solidifies at -94°C [10]. It has no colour and has an odour that is similar to ethyl alcohol. It consists of low carbon and high hydrogen contents. Methanol is the primary material of the derivatives of which is used to produce various compounds for daily living needs. For example, in building materials, perfumes, plastic bags, pharmaceuticals, paints, coatings. It is produced by natural gas, coal, biomass, bio-reshaping. Methanol can also be produced through gasification of coal and a cheap method with the widely available resource. The design and processing conditions may vary depending on the composition of the coal used as a feedstock. Methanol produced from coal has twice as high GHG (Green House Gas) as from natural gas. It can also be produced from virtually all biomass such as wood, algae, municipal and agricultural waste

#### *A Review of Alternative Marine Fuels DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.97871*

through gasification. As an example, black liquor from pulp industry can be gasified and used for methanol synthesis. The chemicals are recovered and reused. A plant at the Smurfit Kappa paper mill in Piteå, Sweden started to produce dimethyl ether in 2010. Diesel engines can be operated by dimethyl alcohol. With a volume of methanol, it is easy to reached the same energy level with 2,5 times larger volume of fuel oil. The flash point is low (11°C, 12°C) and guidelines are currently in the draft for incorporation into the International Maritime Organization's recently adopted International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases or Other Low-Flashpoint Fuels (IGF Code). The risk and safety analysis carried out for the SPIRETH Project (Alcohol Spirits and Ethers as Marine Fuel), which was co-coordinated by SSPA and ScandiNAOS and tested methanol and DME as ship fuels, contributed to the development of the IGF code [11]. Pilot Methanol was initiated by JIP 6–7 to prove and showcase that methanol is an innovative, safe, and sustainable fuel for shipping. EU project aims to demonstrate methanol as a cost-effective, clean, and comfortable fuel alternative with an easy infrastructure implementation [12]. The Zero Vision Tool (ZVT) platform was focusing on the research of methanol usage, converting the MF Stena Germanica to be capable of running on methanol fuel, It is possible that more ships in the Stena Line Fleet would be converted to methanol ships to be operated in the Baltic and the North Sea.
