Ship’s Green Power from Wet Waste. From kitchen leftovers like rice and vegetable scraps to rotting fruits piled in farmers’ markets, Shanghai’s once-troublesome wet waste is undergoing a remarkable transformation into green energy powering massive 10,000-ton vessels.
The 2025 Shanghai International Carbon Neutrality Technology, Products and Achievements Expo (hereinafter “Carbon Expo”) was held from June 5 to 7 in Shanghai, showcasing cutting-edge green technologies. Among these, the green energy transition in the shipping sector commands significant attention.
Green methanol is recognized as one of the primary alternative fuels for shipping over the next 10-20 years. As the world’s busiest container port, Shanghai Port has been developing a green methanol bunkering center matching its operational scale. While green methanol bunkering for ships is already available at Shanghai Port, current supplies originate from overseas or other Chinese provinces.
Currently, green methanol production remains limited and costly. In April 2024, Shanghai Port completed China’s first large-scale simultaneous bunkering operation for green methanol-powered vessels. However, this 500-ton batch was sourced internationally.
Industry experts note that China – a major traditional methanol producer – possesses abundant resources for green methanol production including wind, solar, and biomass. Scaling up domestic green methanol supply capabilities could reduce costs and alleviate shipping companies’ concerns about fuel availability.
Cao Han, a representative at Shenergy Group’s exhibition booth, told China News Network that many European vessels require green methanol bunkering. Shanghai Port’s capability to supply this fuel would attract such ships, combining economic benefits with strategic significance.
In response, Shanghai launched a 100,000-ton green methanol project earlier this year. Covering 8,000 square meters, the project utilizes green electricity from three wind turbines in Shanghai Chemical Industry Park.
Multiple Shanghai state-owned enterprises are collaborating across the supply chain:
- Upstream: Chengtou Group’s Laogang Eco-Environmental Base purifies biogas from wet waste anaerobic digestion into bio-natural gas.
- Midstream: Shenergy Group integrates distributed natural gas resources through Shanghai’s pipeline network, reducing logistics-related emissions.
- Downstream: Shanghai Port handles bunkering operations and market promotion.
Shenergy has established a three-phase strategy:
- Bio-natural gas production
- Biomass gasification
- “Green hydrogen + CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage)”
Using bio-natural gas as an example, Cao Han explained that Shenergy utilizes livestock manure and urban wet waste for anaerobic digestion. The resulting biogas undergoes purification to yield high-purity natural gas. “We’re currently in the raw material accumulation phase,” he noted.
In the near future, vessels calling at Shanghai Port will “refuel” with locally produced green methanol – a milestone advancing Shanghai’s international shipping hub development and supporting China’s “Dual Carbon” (carbon peak and neutrality) goals.
Relevant Maritime Equipment Keywords:
- Bunkering Systems (Fuel transfer equipment)
- Methanol Fuel Tanks (Onboard storage)
- Dual-Fuel Engines (Methanol-compatible propulsion)
- Fuel Supply Systems (Piping, pumps, filters)
- Gas Detection Sensors (Methanol leakage monitoring)
- Bunkering Barges (Portside fuel delivery vessels)
- Fueling Arms/Hoses (Bunkering connectors)
- Emission Control Systems (Scrubbers, catalytic converters)
- CCUS Integration (Carbon capture for vessels)
- Fuel Management Systems (Onboard monitoring tech)
- Custody Transfer Systems (Bunkering quantity measurement)
- Safety Shutdown Systems (Bunkering emergency controls)
- Corrosion-Resistant Materials (Methanol-compatible components)
Our Products: https://lwmarine.com/products/
