Shipping company A.P. Moller-Maersk collaborated with Wallenius Wilhelmsen, the Copenhagen University and other high profile customers, for the development of LEO fuel, a blend of lignin and ethanol, considered to be the lowest-carbon marine fuel of the future and a potential solution for sustainable shipping.
The LEO coalition, also includes the BMW Group, H&M Group, Levi Strauss & Co. and Marks & Spencer. This coalition will consider and examine the environmental and commercial liability of this fuel in shipping.
The maritime industry reports 2-3% carbon dioxide emissions globally, meaning that it is an urgent matter to reduce their environmental footprint. Lignin is structural bio-polymer which assists to the rigidity of plants. It is isolated in great quantities as a byproduct of lignocellulosic ethanol and pupl and paper mills. Currently, it is usually consumed to produce steam and electricity.
Our customers’ ambitions on sustainability are increasing rapidly, and we applaud this development. Clearly, LEO would be a great step forward for supply chain sustainability, and it has the potential to be a viable solution for today’s fleet, and not just a future vision.
…as noted by Craig Jasienski, Wallenius Wilhelmsen Chief Executive Officer.
At this time, University of Copenhagen is in charge of the laboratory-scale development of this promising fuel. The project aims to move to the phase II in the second quarter of 2020, which includes tests of the fuel in real vessel engines. If all goes smoothly, the partners will continue to phase III, which involves the production of the LEO fuel.
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