Danish shipping giant Maersk is conducting tests in Brazil using a new fuel blend that combines ethanol, methanol, and marine diesel, a mixture known in the industry as “bunker fuel.” The initiative, carried out at the Port of Santos, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the global maritime sector, which is responsible for roughly 3% of total emissions worldwide.
Brazilian ethanol plays key role
Maersk, which handles around 15% of the world’s shipping traffic, is testing a blend containing 10% Brazilian ethanol. The company said that if the entire maritime industry adopted a similar mix, it could create global demand for up to 50 billion liters of ethanol annually. For comparison, Brazil — the world’s second-largest producer of the biofuel — is expected to produce about 35 billion liters this year.
“This is the first time ethanol is being burned in a two-stroke engine that’s four stories tall — it’s a completely different scale of research and level of concern,” said Danilo Veras, Maersk’s vice president of regulatory policies for Latin America, in an interview with Reuters.
The company chose Brazilian ethanol for the test because it is primarily sourced from existing sugarcane plantations or, in the case of corn-based ethanol, produced in rotation with soybean crops. According to Veras, this reduces risks of deforestation and ensures that the biofuel complies with international sustainability standards.
Testing process and next steps
The ethanol blend is being tested in Maersk’s methanol-powered vessels, with trials expected to conclude by October 23. If successful, the company plans to expand testing to ships using conventional bunker fuel.
Maersk’s next step will be negotiating supply agreements with leading Brazilian ethanol producers, including Raízen, Copersucar, Inpasa, FS, and Atvos.
The initiative aligns with Maersk’s broader goal of achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040. The company has already been investing in green methanol and other alternative fuels to reduce its reliance on traditional petroleum-based energy sources.
According to Reuters, Brazil’s participation in Maersk’s decarbonization strategy could position the country as a major supplier of sustainable fuels for global shipping, strengthening its role in the energy transition and expanding the market for renewable ethanol.