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#NEWS   7 months 1 0

  • SIX-MONTH PILOT PROJECT TO EXAMINE EXTENDED BIOFUEL USE & RELAED EXPENSES

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    To investigate the costs and effects of continuous, long-term usage of biofuels on large boats, a six-month trial is about to begin. Japan's NYK is collaborating with the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation, based in Singapore, in an effort that they hope will be crucial to advancing the use of biofuel in the shipping sector.

     

    The organisers point out that over the last 10 years, different types of biofuel have been tested aboard, but the main focus of these trials has been on the characteristics of combustion and the amount of pollution reduction. Because biofuel has been shown to work with current engines and bunkering infrastructure, it is a desirable "drop-in" green fuel. However, there is much less data on the continuous and long-term use of biofuels, which is an important component to meet the projected demand for biofuels.

     

    The last few years have seen a sharp increase in the sales of biofuels, with many transportation companies starting the initial stages of testing. According to GCMD, biofuel sales increased from insignificant levels in 2020 to one million metric tonnes in 2023; nonetheless, in important hubs like Singapore and Rotterdam, biofuel still accounts for less than two percent of total bunker sales.

     

    On a short-sea vehicle carrier, Project LOTUS will test the continuous usage of a biofuels blend consisting of 24 percent Fatty Acid Methyl Esters (FAME) and very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO). FAME is an easily accessible biofuel that is produced from second-generation feedstocks, such as mill effluent from palm oil and leftover cooking oil. One of the issues with FAME, in contrast to typical marine fuels, is that it may be more prone to microbial development and chemical breakdown, the results of which may damage shipboard engine components and/or block fuel distribution systems. Consequently, while utilising biofuel drop-ins, engine OEMs and classification societies advise increasing the frequency of maintenance.