Perpetual Next Plans Dutch Biomethanol Plant for Shipping

Biomethanol Project Eyes Marine Fuel Demand

Renewable energy firm Perpetual Next is positioning biomethanol from a planned production facility in the Netherlands as a potential fuel for the shipping sector. According to a report by Ship & Bunker, the company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with hydrogen producer Lhyfe to explore a renewable hydrogen supply arrangement for its DeltaNor project in Delfzijl.

Hydrogen Supply Agreement Details

Under the MoU, Lhyfe could supply as much as 12,000 mt/year of renewable hydrogen to the DeltaNor facility, which is designed with a production capacity of 220,000 mt/year of biomethanol. The hydrogen would originate from Lhyfe’s planned DelfzHyl production facility, located in the Groningen chemical industry cluster. The companies noted that the proposed supply arrangement remains subject to further technical and commercial assessment.

Why Hydrogen Matters for Yield

Renewable hydrogen plays a role in converting more of the biogenic carbon contained in biomass-derived syngas into biomethanol, which can increase overall production yields at the facility. The resulting fuel is intended for use in dual-fuel methanol vessels, offering what the companies describe as a cleaner alternative to fossil-derived grey methanol.

Next Steps

Perpetual Next and Lhyfe said they would continue discussions on both the potential hydrogen supply arrangement and the broader development of their respective projects. The report did not give a timeline for a final investment decision or construction start.

For ship owners and operators evaluating methanol as a bunker fuel option, projects like DeltaNor illustrate how renewable hydrogen integration could support future biomethanol supply chains in Northwest Europe, though commercial availability will depend on the outcome of the assessments now underway between the two companies.

Apeks view — For technical managers weighing methanol newbuilds or retrofits, this MoU is a useful data point, not a supply guarantee. Hydrogen integration could improve biomethanol yield economics, but the arrangement is still subject to technical and commercial assessment, with no investment decision or timeline disclosed. Fuel strategy decisions should track confirmed capacity and offtake commitments as they emerge, rather than anticipated production figures from early-stage announcements like this one.