Titan Clean Fuels has signed an off-take agreement with green energy supplier Turn2X to deliver e-methane to the maritime industry from 2028 onwards.
Titan operates seven bunker vessels and is able to deliver in around 52 ports today, so the new agreement is expected to help significantly scale up green fuel supply. Turn2X’s modular and load-flexible production plant in Miajadas, Spain, converts renewable energy and biogenic CO₂ into ISCC-certified e-methane. This green fuel is then fed into the grid and transported to major European ports, where Titan will bunker it to ship operators, helping them deliver on decarbonisation.
E-methane can achieve net-zero GHG emissions on a well-to-wake basis, with exact reductions depending on the equipment and engine technology used. It offers an up to 95% reduction of NOx and achieves virtually zero SOx and PM emissions, such as black carbon (soot).
These emissions reductions mean ships using e-methane will be eligible for FuelEU Maritime overcompliance and the commercial benefits of banking and pooling. Shipping companies with a compliance surplus or deficit can jump into Titan’s FuelEU pool, which is underpinned by its market experience and long-term fuel access.
Turn2X’s e-methane is a certified renewable fuel of non-biological origin (RFNBO). When calculating FuelEU performance, shipping companies are able to essentially double-count the impact of RFNBO from 2025 to 2033. If RFNBO still makes up less than 1% of reported maritime energy use by 2031, ships may be mandated to use a minimum of 2% RFNBO from 2034.
The deal is considered to offer a concrete step toward industrial-scale e-methane deployment and making European energy more resilient. With the EU now committed to phasing out Russian LNG, ending short-term contracts from 25 April this year and all long-term contracts from 1 January 2027, scaling up the production of green fuels like e-methane can directly support energy security.
Phillip Kessler, Turn2X CEO, said: “We are happy to partner up with Titan and Molgas, leaders in clean marine fuels, to decarbonise the shipping industry with e-methane, the fuel of choice for more and more companies in the maritime sector.”
Caspar Gooren, Commercial Director, Renewable Fuels, Titan, added: “Turn2X are true green fuel pioneers and we are excited by the significant potential of this partnership. Its team’s approach to e-methane supply is scalable: the green fuel can be produced in regions with high volumes of low-cost renewable electricity like Spain, injected into the existing gas grid, and delivered in ports where maritime off-takers need it. The methane pathway – via LNG, liquefied biomethane (LBM/bio-LNG) and e-methane – allows shipowners to decarbonise step-by-step while protecting their existing investments. By using established infrastructure, this route also offers the lowest total cost of compliance along the way. Looking at the destination, all e-fuels have similar production processes, so the price will mainly be led by the availability, costs and scalability of supply-side infrastructure – where methane has a clear head start.”
E-methane can be ‘dropped into’ all existing LNG infrastructure with little to no modification required – including bunkering equipment, terminals and LNG dual fuel vessels. This means e-methane is supported by LNG bunkering infrastructure in approximately 222 ports worldwide and can be used in the around 850 LNG-fuelled vessels currently in operation and the further 642 on order. E-Methane has 1.6 times the energy density of methanol and twice the energy density of ammonia. A fuel with a lower energy density means either larger fuel tanks are required, leaving less space for revenue-generating cargo, or more frequent bunkering operations are needed.
Crews have had thorough training on how to handle, store and bunker LNG, as well as operate dual fuel engines. As demand for e-methane grows into the future, it will benefit from this existing experience and knowledge.
Image: Titan Clean Fuels’ ‘FlexFueler001’ bunker ship (source: Titan Clean Fuels)
