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Maersk and Carbon Sink sign US green methanol partnership

Maersk A rendering of a Maersk methanol-fuelled vessel
Maersk and carbon capture and conversion company Carbon Sink have signed a Letter of Intent to to develop green methanol production facilities in the US.

Carbon Sink will develop facilities in the US, starting with a first facility co-located with an existing bioethanol plant in South Dakota, USA. The facility is expected to have a production capacity of 100,000 tonnes per year and will start commercial operation in 2027.

Maersk said it intends to purchase the full output of the first facility, and has options on the green methanol produced at other Carbon Sink sites as they come online.

At Carbon Sink’s facilities, hydrogen generated by renewably-powered electrolysis will be combines with biogenic CO2, with the first facility using waste CO2 captured from the bioethanol plant on the same site.

Maersk said this was the eighth such partnership it has signed in the area of green fuel production. Maersk has backed methanol as its fuel for the future for its fleet through orders of dual-fuel containerships.

“Securing green fuels at scale in this decade is critical in our fleet decarbonisation efforts. We have set a 2040 net zero target for our entire business – but importantly to stay in line with the Paris Agreement, we have also set 2030 targets to ensure meaningful progress in this decade. Partnerships are essential on this journey – and I am very pleased to welcome Carbon Sink on board,” said Berit Hinnemann, Head of Green Fuels Sourcing, A.P. Moller - Maersk.

“We are very pleased to be working with Maersk in support of their mission to decarbonise the shipping sector. Carbon Sink brings a vast wealth of knowledge, experience and partnerships to help them achieve their ambitious corporate goals. Our multi-project development strategy creates a pathway for the supply of significant volumes of green methanol to help meet the demand of Maersk’s growing dual-fuel ship fleet,” said Steve Meyer, CEO of Carbon Sink.