Unlike larger hydrocarbons, methanol burns incredibly clean at high temperature with zero smog or incomplete combustion products. 

Unlike typical bio-fuels, methanol boasts a monstrous octane rating. This means it naturally has extreme resistance to engine knocking, enabling superior energy efficiency and engine longevity. It finds use as a fuel from tiny F1 cars to colossal maritime vessels.  

If combustion engines are still too inefficient for your liking, methanol fuel cells are an option too. They run completely silent, and provide direct electrochemical energy conversion. Methanol is shot out on a catalyst, where it breaks down and releases hydrogen, which is then oxidized into water, and produces electric current.

It is also fully biodegradable; a major fuel tanker spill would decay on its own in a matter of days without permanently crippling ecosystems. 

Methanol is a liquid at room temperature. Minimal retrofitting is for our existing petroleum based infrastructure to switch to it.  Many shipping lines such as Maersk and Evergreen have been actively doing this to comply with aggressive decarbonization mandates from the IMO and EU.