Equinor Signs Bio Methanol Supply Agreement with Wallenius Wilhelmsen to Support Low Carbon Shipping

Bio-methanol from Equinor will help fuel some of the giants on the oceans. The Wallenius Wilhelmsen group is a market leader in roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) shipping and vehicle logistics, managing the distribution of cars, trucks, rolling equipment and breakbulk to customers all over the world. Their new generation vessels have a capacity to take up to 11,700 cars.
Illustration: Wallenius Wilhelmsen

(IN BRIEF) Equinor has signed a two-year agreement to supply bio-methanol to Wallenius Wilhelmsen for use as marine fuel in the company’s upcoming dual-fuel methanol vessels. The fuel will be delivered at the ports of Zeebrugge and Antwerp starting in late 2026. The partnership supports the development of low-carbon shipping solutions and contributes to efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in maritime transport. Equinor will produce the bio-methanol using methanol from its Tjeldbergodden facility combined with biomethane derived from organic waste such as manure, following the EU Renewable Energy Directive. The agreement strengthens Equinor’s position in the emerging market for alternative marine fuels and helps Wallenius Wilhelmsen advance its strategy to decarbonize ocean logistics operations as the shipping industry works toward the International Maritime Organization’s goal of net-zero emissions by 2050.

(PRESS RELEASE) STAVANGER, 12-Mar-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Equinor has signed a two-year agreement to supply bio-methanol to Wallenius Wilhelmsen, a global provider of roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) shipping and vehicle logistics services. The partnership reflects growing demand for low-carbon marine fuels and supports efforts within the maritime sector to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Under the agreement, Wallenius Wilhelmsen will use bio-methanol supplied by Equinor as bunker fuel for its upcoming fleet of dual-fuel methanol vessels. These ships transport vehicles and heavy machinery between global production hubs and destination markets. Deliveries of the fuel will begin in late 2026, with bunkering operations taking place at the Ports of Zeebrugge and Antwerp, two important maritime logistics centers in Europe.

The agreement marks another step in Equinor’s efforts to expand the use of bio-based methanol in the shipping sector. Alex Grant, Senior Vice President for Crude, Products and Liquids at Equinor, said interest in bio-methanol as a viable maritime fuel continues to increase as shipping companies seek scalable solutions to reduce emissions. He noted that the partnership with Wallenius Wilhelmsen builds on earlier supply agreements with other shipping companies and represents continued momentum for the development of a low-carbon marine fuel market.

The adoption of bio-methanol is expected to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from vessels operating on the fuel. For Wallenius Wilhelmsen, the agreement forms part of a broader strategy to decarbonize its shipping operations and offer lower-emission logistics solutions to customers.

Xavier Leroi, Chief Operating Officer for Shipping Services at Wallenius Wilhelmsen, described the agreement as an important milestone for the company. He explained that securing access to low-carbon bio-methanol strengthens the company’s ability to transition its ocean operations toward lower emissions while expanding its portfolio of sustainable logistics services.

The bio-methanol supplied by Equinor will be produced using a combination of methanol manufactured at the company’s Tjeldbergodden facility in Norway and biogas certificates derived from captured biomethane. The biomethane originates from organic sources such as manure and other biomass, consistent with the requirements of the EU Renewable Energy Directive.

Using a mass-balance approach, biomethane introduced into the gas grid can be converted into methanol through existing production infrastructure. This method allows bio-methanol to be produced efficiently without requiring entirely new industrial facilities. It also helps reduce methane emissions that could otherwise occur if agricultural waste such as manure decomposes untreated.

Producing methanol from biomethane involves purifying the gas to increase its methane content before converting it into hydrogen and carbon-based feedstock for methanol synthesis. The resulting fuel can then be used as a marine energy source compatible with dual-fuel engines designed to operate on methanol.

The shipping industry is actively exploring alternative fuels as part of global decarbonization efforts. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set a target of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping by around 2050. Fuels such as bio-methanol are increasingly considered an important option for meeting these climate objectives.

Wallenius Wilhelmsen operates a global logistics network transporting vehicles, trucks, heavy equipment, and other cargo. The company manages a fleet of approximately 127 vessels serving 15 trade routes across six continents. Its operations also include a worldwide inland distribution network, 70 processing centers, and eight marine terminals. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, the company employs about 12,000 people in 28 countries.

Through the new agreement, Equinor and Wallenius Wilhelmsen aim to support the broader adoption of alternative fuels in maritime transport while advancing the transition toward lower-carbon shipping operations.

Facts about methanol from biogas:

Biomethane is produced from organic materials. Before methanol synthesis, biomethane needs to be purified by removing impurities and increasing the methane content. This is often done using various upgrading technologies. To produce hydrogen (H₂) required for the reaction, the CO₂ present in the biomethane can be converted via reforming processes

Methanol is synthesized using methane and carbon dioxide with hydrogen. The process results in the production of methanol from the original biomethane.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions from international shipping to net zero by or around 2050. Transitioning to methanol can be part of strategies to meet these targets.

About Wallenius Wilhelmsen

The Wallenius Wilhelmsen group is a market leader in roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) shipping and vehicle logistics, managing the distribution of cars, trucks, rolling equipment, and breakbulk to customers all over the world.

The company operates around 127 vessels servicing 15 trade routes to six continents, a global inland distribution network, 70 processing centers, and eight marine terminals.

With its head office in Oslo, Norway, the Wallenius Wilhelmsen group has about 12,000 employees in 28 countries worldwide.

Read more at www.walleniuswilhelmsen.com

Media Contact:

Magnus Franzen Eidsvold
+47 975 28 604
mfei@equinor.com

SOURCE: Equinor