Biomethanol as a Marine Fuel Within Land Use Sustainability Boundaries

Abstract

Global shipping is an essential, energy-efficient enabler of trade, yet it remains a hard-to-abate sector. With shipping demand projected to continue to rise in the coming decades, identifying scalable and sustainable fuel alternatives is critical. Biofuels, and particularly biomethanol, offer a promising option due to their compatibility with existing infrastructure. However, their sustainability critically hinges on land use impacts. From this Perspective, we argue that biomethanol derived from a dedicated crop could contribute to maritime decarbonisation, with ~71–77% well-to-wake greenhouse gases (GHG) reductions under cropland-only constraints. We further point to the fact that a wider adoption faces challenges such as higher costs, limited availability, and lower energy density relative to fossil fuels. Continued research and monitoring are essential to ensure that biofuel production does not inadvertently contribute to deforestation or biodiversity loss. We underscore the need for spatially sensitive biofuel deployment strategies that align maritime decarbonisation with land-system sustainability and climate objectives.