The Future of Clean Shipping: How Methanol Fuel Cells Are Decarbonising Maritime Transport
October 30, 2025
Decarbonizing maritime shipping is critical for a sustainable future, but conventional engines and fuel systems have long been a bottleneck. Anders Korsgaard and his team at Blue World Technologies are on track to change that.
Join Dylan Garrett on this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, as he welcomes Anders Korsgaard, Founder and CEO of Blue World Technologies, to discuss how methanol fuel cells are transforming the industry. Drawing on decades of expertise in fuel cell systems, Anders explains how high-temperature PEM fuel cells convert liquid methanol into clean electricity with 20–25% improved efficiency over conventional engines. He shares why methanol is emerging as the preferred green fuel for shipping, how waste heat recycling boosts system performance, and the practical challenges of retrofitting versus new-build vessels. From forming strategic partnerships with industry leaders like Maersk to scaling hardware solutions for hard-to-abate sectors, Anders reveals what it takes to make sustainable maritime shipping both economically viable and technologically feasible.
Decarbonizing maritime shipping is critical for a sustainable future, but conventional engines and fuel systems have long been a bottleneck. Anders Korsgaard and his team at Blue World Technologies are on track to change that.
Join Dylan Garrett on this episode of Hardware to Save a Planet, as he welcomes Anders Korsgaard, Founder and CEO of Blue World Technologies, to discuss how methanol fuel cells are transforming the industry. Drawing on decades of expertise in fuel cell systems, Anders explains how high-temperature PEM fuel cells convert liquid methanol into clean electricity with 20–25% improved efficiency over conventional engines. He shares why methanol is emerging as the preferred green fuel for shipping, how waste heat recycling boosts system performance, and the practical challenges of retrofitting versus new-build vessels. From forming strategic partnerships with industry leaders like Maersk to scaling hardware solutions for hard-to-abate sectors, Anders reveals what it takes to make sustainable maritime shipping both economically viable and technologically feasible.
What you will learn:
- How methanol fuel cells achieve higher efficiency than conventional maritime engines
- Why methanol is emerging as the preferred green fuel for maritime shipping
- The technical breakthrough of using waste heat to improve overall system efficiency
- How fuel cells can reduce green fuel consumption by 20-25%
- Why retrofitting existing ships presents different challenges than new builds
- The critical role of industrial partnerships in scaling hardware climate solutions
- Why liquid fuels will likely remain crucial for long-distance maritime shipping
- How the intersection of renewable energy infrastructure and fuel cell technology enables reliable power generation in remote locations
Anders Korsgaard is the Founder and CEO of Blue World Technologies, a leading innovator in methanol fuel cell technology for maritime and stationary power applications. With a PhD in fuel cell systems and over two decades of experience in sustainable energy, Anders has dedicated his career to advancing clean, efficient alternatives to combustion engines. Under his leadership, Blue World is partnering with global industry leaders like Maersk to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors and enable the transition to sustainable shipping.
Episode Resources:
- Anders Korsgaard on LinkedIn
- Blue World Technologies Website
- Dylan Garrett on LinkedIn
- Synapse Podcast Website
- Synapse Website
- Hardware to Save a Planet Apple Podcasts
- Hardware to Save a Planet Spotify
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Previous guests include: Peter Reinhardt of Charm Industrial, Carlos Araque of Quaise, Noah McQueen of Heirloom, Areeb Malik of Glacier, Jeff Satwicz of Bigbelly, Abe Schneider of Natel Energy, Insiya Jafferjee of Shellworks, Paul Gross of Remora, Erika Boeing of Accelerate Wind and Daniel Betts of Blue Frontier.
Check out our three most downloaded episodes:
- Going Big on Clean Energy with Small Fusion Reactors with Robin Langtry, Co-Founder and CEO of Avalanche Energy
- The Role of Energy Storage Systems in Combating Climate Change with Mike Wietecki of Powin and John Thomas of ESS
- Marine Electrification to Reduce Costs and Environmental Damage: A Conversation with Marcelino Alvarez, CEO of Photon Marine
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