Perpetual Next’s Dutch Biomethanol Plant Targets Shipping | Mariner News

Perpetual Next is developing a 220,000 metric tonnes per year (mt/year) biomethanol production facility in Delfzijl, Netherlands, with a significant portion of its output planned for the marine fuels sector. The renewable energy firm has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with hydrogen producer Lhyfe to explore a supply of renewable hydrogen for its DeltaNor project.

Under the agreement, Lhyfe could supply up to 12,000 mt/year of renewable hydrogen from its planned DelfzHyl facility within the Groningen chemical industry cluster. This renewable hydrogen input is crucial, as it can help convert more biogenic carbon in biomass-derived syngas into biomethanol, thereby increasing production yields and enhancing the fuel’s overall green credentials.

This development strengthens the Netherlands’ position as a hub for alternative marine fuel production, directly supporting the growing global fleet of dual-fuel methanol-powered vessels. The planned scale of 220,000 mt/year output could meaningfully increase the availability of a cleaner alternative to fossil-derived grey methanol in a key European bunkering region.

The collaboration also highlights a significant emerging trend in green fuels—the integration of renewable hydrogen into biomass conversion processes. This approach is vital for maximizing the sustainability of biomethanol and establishing robust, interconnected supply chains necessary for scaling up low-carbon marine fuels.

Both Perpetual Next and Lhyfe will continue discussions on the potential supply arrangement and the broader development of their respective projects, with the proposed hydrogen supply remaining subject to technical and commercial assessments.