Environment & Energy

WinGD debuts X-DF-M platform with biggest ever methanol-fuelled engine
26 February 2025

Swiss marine power company WinGD’s first methanol-fuelled engine is to be delivered to the shipyard after passing factory and type approval tests. The ten-cylinder, 92‑bore X-DF-M engine is destined for a 16,000 TEU container ship and is the biggest methanol-fuelled engine built to date.

There are 56 X-DF-M engines on order across bore sizes ranging from 52 to 92, in similar cylinder configurations and engine rating fields as diesel-fuelled X-Engines. The addition of methanol capability to WinGD’s engine line-up further extends the decarbonisation options available to deep-sea ship operators, which include the long-established X-DF LNG-fuelled engine platform and a new ammonia-fuelled X-DF-A platform.

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As previously reported, the first X-DF-M engine will be installed on the fourth vessel of a new series. The previous three engines were fitted with 10X92-B engines which will be converted to 10X92DF-M engines once the first, newbuild methanol engine is commissioned. Dual-fuel methanol conversion packages will be available for all WinGD single-fuel and dual-fuel engines.

Methanol, like LNG, can be produced with low carbon emissions by using either biomass or renewable energy with captured carbon. The evolution of these fuel pathways – with similar routes towards green ammonia and e-diesel – will be essential for shipping’s energy transition, as will the engine technology to use emerging low- and zero-carbon fuels. WinGD’s range of single- and dual-fuel engines support maritime decarbonisation, whichever fuel pathway ship operators choose.