German start-up company ICODOS has developed a patented process to produce climate-neutral methanol from wastewater for use as marine fuel.
In collaboration with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), the company opened a plant at a sewage treatment facility in Mannheim. This facility is the first in the world to integrate a process that converts sewage gas into e-methanol, offering a sustainable alternative for the shipping industry.
Although the pilot plant currently produces only 50 liters of methanol per day—insufficient for modern container ships—ICODOS is already constructing a larger facility near Paris, set to produce 15 times more fuel by late 2026.
The €2 million ($2.2 million) project, partly funded by the German government, could play a crucial role in reducing emissions from the shipping sector.
Co-founder Vidal Vazquez emphasized that this technology not only prevents emissions but also adds value by converting waste materials into fuel.
