DNV announced the launch of the industry’s first public tender portal for e-methanol procurement within the EU and the UK to help offtakers secure supplies of the low-carbon fuel with a European producer.
The classification society said it has created a transparent competitive tender structure on behalf of a European e-methanol producer to secure long-term offtake agreements for RFNBO-certified e-methanol volumes in the EU and UK.
Green or e-methanol has risen in popularity as a decarbonisation pathway for the maritime industry, with container lines in particular investing in dual-fuel methanol ships. Some of the current challenges for methanol as a fuel in shipping are a lack of available volumes, lack of bunkering infrastructure, and a lack of clear demand signals form offtakers to support investment in production facilities.
The methanol on offer will be compliant with RED III and Delegated Acts governing RFNBO certification, and delivery is expected to begin in the second half of 2028 across the UK and Europe.
DNV said its tender enables companies to lock in reliable, price-stable, and regulation-compliant supply, ensuring predictability and alignment with future fuel mandates while reducing exposure to compliance risks. The tender platform is open to industrial users, maritime operators, traders, and other organisations committed to net-zero targets and sustainable sourcing.
The first of two stages in the tender process will verify serious potential offtakers through a non-binding qualification phase. The second will see direct negotiations between the producer and shortlisted offtakers, an approach the company believes will increase confidence for all parties involved.
Santiago Blanco, vice-president and regional director at DNV, said: “The technology for e-methanol exists, but the market mechanisms to scale it are still forming. By launching this tender, we are applying our neutral expertise to de-risk the procurement process for both producers and offtakers. This is about turning ambition into actionable supply agreements and accelerating the fuel transition in Europe.”
