ReMeWa - Methanol

Non-Road Mobile Machinery (NRMM) comprises machines equipped with gasoline or diesel engines that are not intended for the transport of passengers or goods. This includes forklifts and construction equipment, as well as a wide range of material-handling machinery used on yards and in ports, such as cranes, reach stackers, and even inland vessels. Although electrification is a viable greening technology for certain applications, it presents challenges in the case of heavily loaded NRMM machines due to: high upfront costs of electric drivetrains; the weight and size of batteries, which affect performance and design; limited availability of charging infrastructure at work sites; and reduced operational flexibility and productivity.

For these reasons, sustainable fuels such as methanol and hydrogen are being investigated as alternatives. The research groups “Sustainable Industries” at Karel de Grote University of Applied Sciences and Arts (KdG) and “Hydrogen” at VIVES University of Applied Sciences have been studying combustion engines operating on these fuels for more than 20 years. Dual-fuel technology (a combination of diesel and a more sustainable fuel) appears to be a practical solution for rapidly decarbonising existing NRMM machinery through retrofitting: existing engines and applications can be converted by installing a secondary injection system and an additional compact fuel tank, which is less complex and lighter than a battery pack. Moreover, refuelling times remain comparable to diesel. Retrofitting is particularly suitable for NRMM applications, as these machines have long operational lifetimes, and full conversion to an electric drivetrain is often not economically feasible.