MAN Energy Solutions two-stroke licensee HHI-EMD has an important milestone in Korea, with what is said to be the world’s largest methanol-powered, two-stroke engine, which surpasses 200 million brake-horsepower produced by the manufacturer.
Completion of the new engine, an MAN B&W G95ME-LGIM, pushed the company past the 200 million brake-horsepower milestone for low-speed, two-stroke engines since beginning the licence arrangement in 1974 – the first engine builder to achieve this figure.
Bjarne Foldager, Head of Two-Stroke Business, said: “It took about 35 years for the first 100 million brake-horsepower, and only 13 years for the next 100 million – an unbelievable achievement. With its 95cm cylinder bore-size, this is the world’s largest methanol engine. And maybe most importantly, when this engine is in operation it will save 130,000t of CO2 annually when operating on carbon-neutral methanol. We have a great responsibility for the future to develop and produce environmentally-friendly engines and ships. We are really proud of helping Hyundai on this important journey and hope to celebrate many new milestones together in the future.”
The G95ME-C10.5-LGIM methanol engine is expected to record a successful FAT (Factory Acceptance Test).
MAN Energy Solutions developed the ME-LGIM dual-fuel engine for operation on methanol, as well as conventional fuel. The engine is based on the company’s proven ME-series, with approximately 8,500 engines in service, and works according to the Diesel principle. When operating on green methanol, the engine offers carbon-neutral propulsion for large merchant marine vessels. Currently more than 100 ME-LGIM engines are on order or in service, more than 50 of which are G95ME-C10.5-LGIM variants.
Methanol carriers have already operated at sea for many years using the engine, and, as such, the ME-LGIM has a proven track record offering great reliability and high fuel efficiency.