Friedrichshafen, Germany — 27 October 2025 — Rolls-Royce has announced the successful testing of the world’s first high-speed marine engine powered entirely by methanol. The achievement, described as a world first in its performance category, marks a significant step toward climate-neutral propulsion for shipping. The trial was conducted at the company’s Power Systems facility in Friedrichshafen as part of the meOHmare research project, a joint effort between Rolls-Royce, Woodward L’Orange, and WTZ Roßlau. The project, supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, aims to develop a fully CO₂-neutral marine engine concept based on green methanol by the end of 2025.
Dr. Jörg Stratmann, CEO of Rolls-Royce Power Systems AG, said the test represents a significant technological breakthrough. “To date, there is no other high-speed engine in this performance range that runs purely on methanol,” he stated. “We are investing in forward-looking technologies to help our customers reduce CO₂ emissions while strengthening our position in sustainable propulsion systems.”
Methanol poses specific engineering challenges since, unlike diesel, it does not self-ignite. Engineers at Rolls-Royce redesigned key engine systems, including combustion, turbocharging, and control functions, and even modified test-bench infrastructure to handle the new fuel. Dr. Johannes Kech, Head of Methanol Engine Development at Rolls-Royce Power Systems, said, “We have re-engineered the combustion process and adapted the engine architecture for methanol operation. Initial results are very positive — the engine runs smoothly, and our next step will be fine-tuning.”
Since 2023, Rolls-Royce and its partners have been developing a high-speed combustion engine capable of CO₂-neutral operation using green methanol. The successful test sends a clear message to the industry that methanol is a viable, future-oriented fuel for maritime applications. Denise Kurtulus, Senior Vice President Global Marine at Rolls-Royce, said, “Green methanol has real potential as a marine fuel — and the technology for it is now proven. The single-fuel methanol engine is particularly suitable for ferries, yachts, and supply vessels seeking to reduce their carbon footprint. The challenge now is to establish the conditions for wider adoption.”
Alongside the single-fuel version, Rolls-Royce is also developing a dual-fuel engine capable of operating on both methanol and diesel, providing a bridging technology until green methanol becomes more widely available. Green methanol is regarded as one of the most promising alternative fuels for shipping. When produced via renewable energy through power-to-X processes, its operation can be CO₂-neutral. It is also biodegradable, easy to store, and produces significantly fewer pollutants than other sustainable fuels.
The work aligns with Rolls-Royce’s “lower carbon” strategic pillar within its multi-year transformation programme and the Power Systems initiative to grow its marine business, reinforcing the company’s long-term goal of providing efficient and sustainable energy solutions across the maritime sector.
Source: Rolls-Royce Press Release (27 October 2025)
