Leading UK clean energy innovator PuriFire Energy has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) with X-Press Feeders, the world’s biggest independent feeder carrier, to support the development and supply of green bio methanol for the shipping sector.
The LOI represents a major advancement in efforts to decarbonise one of the most crucial and traditionally challenging sectors of global trade.
Under the LOI, both parties will explore the potential for X-Press Feeders to offtake bio-methanol produced by PuriFire. This includes an initial targeted production range of 10,000 to 15,000 tonnes per year from PuriFire’s planned facilities.
Both parties participated in the same consortium under the UK Government-supported Clean Maritime Demonstration Competition (CMDC6). This LOI marks another step toward the commercial deployment of PuriFire’s technology.
In addition, both parties will explore the co-development of larger port-based bio-methanol production facilities across the United Kingdom and Europe. This will support a distributed fuel supply system that aligns with X-Press Feeders’ vessel operations and regional needs.
The LOI highlights the growing momentum for green methanol as a maritime transition fuel, as operators seek to reduce emissions while maintaining operational flexibility. However, the worldwide supply of green methanol remains limited. Even with commitments to develop green methanol production facilities, the global supply still falls well short of the increasing demand from the shipping sector.
PuriFire’s patented hydrothermal gasification technology converts wastewater and waste carbon into green fuels such as bio-methanol and biomethane, offering a decentralised, cost-competitive production pathway that can be deployed on-site or near demand centres.
This LOI also highlights increasing regulation of low-carbon maritime fuels. The EU’s FuelEU Maritime law, effective January 2025, sets greenhouse gas reduction targets for ships at EU ports – 2% in 2025 up to 80% by 2050- with penalties for non-compliance. Access to reliable and cost-competitive supply of certified green methanol will be an important factor for operators navigating these requirements.
By combining XPF’s fleet-scale demand signal with PuriFire’s decentralised production model, both parties aim to create a vertically aligned fuel supply chain – one that can be replicated at multiple port locations across Europe and beyond. The co-development of captive production facilities represents a forward-looking approach that moves beyond spot-market fuel procurement toward integrated, long-term energy security.
Neel Shah, CEO of PuriFire Energy, said:“X-Press Feeders is actively shaping the future of shipping, not just waiting for it. Working with the world’s largest independent feeder carrier validates demand for our technology at the highest level and provides a clear roadmap for deploying bio-methanol production where it’s needed most. Together, we are demonstrating that decarbonising maritime fuel can be both effective and a competitive edge, rather than a compromise.”
Shivendu Gadkar, Head of Fleet Efficiency and Performance at X-Press Feeders, said:“The success of our decarbonisation strategy depends on access to and availability of cost-effective green fuels at scale. PuriFire’s technology, which produces bio-methanol directly from wastewater, represents exactly the kind of innovation the industry needs.
We look forward to working together to build a resilient green fuel supply chain across our European network and beyond.”
Diptesh Chohan
