The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) has completed the final supply chain trial for biofuel blended with very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO), bringing a series of trials launched in July 2022 to an end.
The series of trials form a part of a larger pilot to develop a framework to provide quality, quantity, and greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement assurances for drop-in fuels.
In the final trial, 4,500 MT of B3 marine biofuel blend with a new organic-based tracer, which was deployed for the first time, was bunkered at the Port of Rotterdam. The biofuel blend was provided by energy major BP to Tihama, a 19,870 TEU containership operated by Hapag-Lloyd.
According to GCMD, the biofuel component is certified to the International Sustainability & Carbon Certification (ISCC) standard – a multistakeholder certification scheme for biobased materials. It comprised neat fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) produced from food waste.
Authentix, a tracer solutions provider, supplied and dosed the FAME with an organic-based tracer at the storage terminal outside the Netherlands. The dosed FAME was then transported to the Port of Rotterdam for blending with VLSFO to achieve a B30 blend, before the blend was bunkered onboard the Tihama.
Similar to previous trials, GCMD engaged fuel testing company Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) to witness the operations at all stages – from biofuel cargo transfer to bunkering. VPS also collected and conducted extensive laboratory tests on samples of the biofuel and biofuel blend collected at pre-determined points along the supply chain to assess quality per Standards EN 14214 and ISO 8217.
With well-to-wake emissions of 13.74 gCO2e/MJ, the neat FAME presented a 85.4% emissions reduction compared to the emissions of the fossil marine fuel. The reduced emissions comply with the MEPC 80, which requires a minimum emissions reduction of 65% in order for biofuels to be classified as sustainable.
GCMD and Hapag-Lloyd determined that consumption of the 4,500 MT B30 blend of FAME and VLSFO resulted in a 27.9% emissions reduction compared to sailing on VLSFO.
With the completion of this trial, GCMD has deployed a diverse range of tracer technologies, including synthetic DNA and element-based tracers, in addition to the organic-based tracer used in this trial. The trials have also included the development of a chemical fingerprinting methodology and the evaluation of lock-and-seal and automatic identification systems (AIS) as additional solutions to ensure the integrity of the biofuels supply chain.
The insights from these trials will be shared in a series of reports covering issues, such as traceability, biofuel degradation, supply chain optimization, and abatement costs. These findings will make up a comprehensive assurance framework to provide guidance on biofuels use, slated for release in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Tags: Biofuels, GCMD, Hapag-Lloyd, ISCC, Marine Fuel
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