Method of operating an internal combustion engine of a watercraft

A method of producing methanol for use as fuel in an internal combustion engine of a watercraft comprising:

• splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen in an electrolysis unit configured for production of hydrogen;
• extracting carbon dioxide from ambient air at a carbon dioxide sorption unit;
• feeding the hydrogen and the carbon dioxide to a methanol synthesis unit, the methanol synthesis unit synthesizing the hydrogen and the carbon dioxide into methanol;
• and
• converting absorbed solar energy at a photovoltaic unit into electrical energy, wherein the electrolysis unit, the carbon dioxide sorption unit and the methanol synthesis unit are powered by the electrical energy generated in the photovoltaic unit, wherein the internal combustion engine is part of a power unit of a hybrid electrically powered watercraft, and wherein the mechanical energy of the internal combustion engine is converted by the power unit into electrical drive energy for propulsion of the watercraft.

Apparatus configured to operate an internal combustion engine of a watercraft comprising:

• an electrolysis unit configured to split water into hydrogen and oxygen for production of hydrogen;
• a carbon dioxide sorption unit configured to extract carbon dioxide from ambient air;
• a methanol synthesis unit configured for the production of methanol using the hydrogen and the carbon dioxide, wherein the methanol synthesis unit synthesizes the hydrogen and the carbon dioxide into the methanol;
• and
• a photovoltaic unit configured to convert absorbed solar energy into electrical energy, wherein the electrolysis unit, the carbon dioxide sorption unit and the methanol synthesis unit are powered by the electrical energy generated in the photovoltaic unit, wherein the methanol is transported by a distribution system to a tank of the watercraft, and wherein the methanol is supplied from the tank as fuel for combustion to the internal combustion engine for generation of mechanical energy, wherein the water is desalinated in a seawater desalination unit and fed to the electrolysis unit, and wherein the seawater desalination unit is operated by the electrical energy generated in the photovoltaic unit.

Apparatus configured to produce methanol for use as fuel in an internal combustion engine of a watercraft comprising:

• an electrolysis unit configured to split water into hydrogen and oxygen for production of hydrogen;
• a carbon dioxide sorption unit configured to extract carbon dioxide from ambient air;
• a methanol synthesis unit using a supply of the hydrogen and the carbon dioxide, wherein the methanol synthesis unit synthesizes the hydrogen and the carbon dioxide into methanol;
• and
• a photovoltaic unit configured to convert absorbed solar energy into electrical energy, wherein the electrolysis unit, the carbon dioxide sorption unit and the methanol synthesis unit are powered by the electrical energy generated in the photovoltaic unit, wherein the internal combustion engine is part of a power unit of a hybrid electrically powered watercraft, and wherein the mechanical energy of the internal combustion engine is converted by the power unit into electrical drive energy for propulsion of the watercraft.

A method for operating an internal combustion engine of a watercraft comprising:

• splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen in an electrolysis unit configured for production of the hydrogen;
• extracting carbon dioxide from ambient air at a carbon dioxide sorption unit;
• feeding the hydrogen and the carbon dioxide to a methanol synthesis unit, wherein the methanol synthesis unit synthesizes the hydrogen and the carbon dioxide into methanol;
• and
• converting absorbed solar energy at a photovoltaic unit into electrical energy, wherein the electrolysis unit, the carbon dioxide sorption unit and the methanol synthesis unit are powered by the electrical energy generated in the photovoltaic unit, wherein the methanol is transported by a distribution system to a tank of the watercraft, and wherein the methanol is supplied from the tank as fuel for combustion to the internal combustion engine for generation of mechanical energy, wherein the water is desalinated in a seawater desalination unit and fed to the electrolysis unit, and wherein the seawater desalination unit is operated by the electrical energy generated in the photovoltaic unit.