Integrated container logistics company A.P. Moller – Maersk announced today a major fuel purchase agreement with China-based clean energy company Goldwind, for the offtake of 500,000 tonnes per year of green methanol, beginning in 2026.

According to Maersk, the deal marks first large scale green methanol offtake agreement for the global shipping industry, and will enable low carbon operations for the company’s first 12 large methanol-enabled vessels.

The agreement is the latest in a series of moves by Maersk to enable the expansion of its low carbon fleet, with 25 methanol-enabled vessels on order, beginning with its order in 2021 for the world’s first carbon-neutral methanol fueled container ship. Earlier this year, the company announced plans for the industry’s first-ever retrofit to convert an existing fossil fuel-powered container vessel to dual-fuel methanol-powered vessel, with plans to retrofit future vessels. The company has announced a series of carbon reduction targets, including goals to achieve net zero gas emissions in 2040 across its entire businesses and all scopes, as well as a 50% reduction in emissions per transported container in its ocean fleet, and a 70% reduction in absolute emissions from fully controlled terminals by 2030.

Rabab Raafat Boulos, Chief Infrastructure Officer at Maersk, said:

“A.P. Moller – Maersk aims to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2040 across its business. The deal significantly de-risks the initial stages of Maersk’s net-zero journey and supports expectations for a competitive green methanol market towards 2030. The record-high volumes can annually propel more than half the methanol-enabled capacity Maersk currently has on order.”

The fuel to be provided by Goldwind includes green bio-methanol and e-methanol, produced utilizing wind energy at a new production facility in Hinggan League in Northeast China. Production at the facility is anticipated to begin in 2026.

Goldwind Chairman Wu Gang said:

“The volumes combine a mix of green bio-methanol and e-methanol, all produced utilising wind energy at a new production facility in Hinggan League, Northeast China, around 1000km northeast of Beijing. Production is expected to begin in 2026. Following this signed offtake agreement, Goldwind expects to confirm a final investment decision for the facility by the end of the year.”