WinGD, a Swiss marine power firm, has unveiled plans to introduce its first ethanol-fuelled two-stroke marine engine in 2026, with initial deliveries targeted for 2027.
The engine will be supplied for both new vessel construction and retrofit projects.
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WinGD said it spent a decade researching ethanol as a marine fuel. This journey began with a project funded by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy in 2014 and included full-scale engine tests conducted in 2018.
The company’s new ethanol engine utilises technology from its X‑DF-M methanol-fuelled model. This design has already received approval from classification societies and feedback from early adopters, said WinGD.
The ethanol version adapts the diesel-cycle combustion concept across WinGD’s range of bore sizes. Changes to the control system and fuel injector arrangement accommodate ethanol’s higher energy density, allowing for lower overall fuel volumes.
The company has pursued flexible solutions for alcohol fuels, leading work on injector development as part of the HERCULES 2 project funded by the EU since 2016.
Ethanol’s production from renewable biomass and its competitive pricing in some markets have attracted attention within the maritime sector as operators seek alternative fuel options.
WinGD research and development vice president Sebastian Hensel said: “This announcement is further evidence of the strength of our research programme. Our early ethanol explorations were crucial to the successful development of our X-DF-M methanol engine, and now both are enabling the rapid commercialisation of the first ethanol-fuelled two-stroke engine.
“As global emission regulations are set to be passed, we’re pleased to be able to offer a further lower carbon alternative to ship owners and operators.”
WinGD is currently engaged with ship owners, ethanol suppliers, and class societies about commercial applications for the new engine. The company has stated it will clarify whether the first engine will be optimised solely for ethanol use or configured for methanol with secondary capability for ethanol at a later stage.
Additionally, WinGD has become a founding member of the Global Ethanol Association, aiming to connect organisations within the ethanol supply chain.
In June 2025, WinGD confirmed that it will deliver XDFM dual-fuel methanol engines and X-Engine methanol-ready designs to more than 30 container vessels ordered by a major Taiwanese ship operator.
The contract covers methanol-ready X92 engines for twelve vessels each with a capacity of 16,000 twenty-foot equivalent unit (TEU). These orders are in addition to earlier contracts for twenty 8,700 TEU ships, which include 14 equipped with methanol-ready X82 engines and six to feature X82DF-M methanol-fuelled engines.
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