MEYER NEPTUN Engineering develops retrofit tank solutions for green fuels

Joint research project with Fraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering Rostock and Technologie-Beratungs-Institut Schwerin is funded by the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania

Rostock, February 2 2023 – The next step towards climate neutrality for global shipping:
MEYER NEPTUN Engineering is working with the Fraunhofer Institute for Large Structures in Production Engineering Rostock and the Technology Consulting Institute Schwerin to develop retrofit solutions for ship tanks in order to be able to use novel and green fuels. The European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) from the Ministry of Economy, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labour funds the project called Retrotank with 100,000 Euros.

„We are pleased to be carrying out this important research project here locally with other partners from Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. In this way, we are positioning ourselves for the future and can make an important contribution to the transformation of shipping with new know-how,“ says Malte Poelmann, Managing Director of MEYER NEPTUN Engineering.

State Secretary Jochen Schulte, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Infrastructure, Tourism and Labour: „This project is driving the necessary change towards greater use of renewable energies. The maritime industry in particular will benefit from the results. Environmentally friendly solutions are especially needed in shipping. The Ministry of Economics supports innovative research and development projects that are implemented in cooperation between industry and science. This strengthens Mecklenburg-Vorpommern as a business location.“

The aim of the research project is to develop retrofit solutions for tank systems on existing ships for the use of new fuels with low flash points such as methanol. In this way, the current fleet of maritime and inland navigation vessels can be transformed for the use of green fuels. The feasibility of such retrofit solutions for low pressure gases such as ammonia is also being investigated. „We aim to develop, test and also certify technologies for the MEYER Group,“ says Ragnar Christenson, Programme Manager Research & Development.

The company is looking at the entire production chain of green fuels for maritime applications. To this end, MEYER NEPTUN Engineering works with a diverse network of partners. In cooperation with the Leibniz Institute for Catalysis (LIKAT Rostock), a development platform is currently being created for fuels from renewable energy and CO2 using the so-called power-to-liquid process.

The competence and services of MEYER NEPTUN Engineering will also provide further work for NEPTUN WERFT and thus for the location of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. The shipyard is the world market leader in the construction of river cruise ships. MEYER NEPTUN Engineering will also integrate green technologies into these ships in future projects. Currently, the engineering firm is working on the development of two naval fuel supply vessels for the German Navy, most of which are being built at NEPTUN WERFT.