Archipelago Yachts demonstrates methanol technology delivering 12x the energy density of marine batteries

Hellenic Shipping News8 Jul 2026Innovation
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The project, supported by Innovate UK through the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC6), integrated an E1 Marine methanol reformer with an Auriga Energy hydrogen fuel cell, a 100kW electric propulsion system and a 100kWh battery in a 20-ft container at Archipelago Yachts’ Isle of Wight facility. Testing recorded an end-to-end energy conversion efficiency similar to marine diesel engines, yielding an effective gravimetric energy density of approximately 1.5 kWh/kg of consumed methanol, and advanced the system from TRL 2‑3 to TRL 5‑6. The consortium estimates the technology could cut roughly 40 tonnes of CO₂ per vessel annually in leisure applications, with larger savings possible for offshore wind support vessels, and is now pursuing investor interest and a potential first customer for integration into an all-electric Archipelago vessel.