Oldendorff Carriers shared a research paper on a biofuel trial voyage which the company performed in 2021 with BHP, GoodFuels and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).
The paper is prepared under a research agreement with Massachusetts Institute of Technology, exploring numerous alternatives for sustainable shipping, and peer-reviewed by the Royal Society of Chemistry, said the company.
According to the report, the biofuel blend can result in up to 40% CO2 reduction with a 2nd Generation B50 blended biodiesel with MGO, but only from a well-to-wake perspective.
As a result, the IMO and other regulators should consider adopting a holistic approach to carbon accounting for marine fuels if biofuel is to be widely adopted.
In addition, when considering alternative fuels, like biofuel, more work is needed to study other pollutants, such as particulate matter and carbon monoxide in addition to CO2, NOx and SO2.
On a short-term basis, the biofuel is proven. Further studies should commence on any potential long-term effects on engine operation, performance and stability of the fuel blends
Moreover, biofuel benefits take place before ship bunkering, as burning biofuels won’t change combustion CO2 emissions much but can result in significant CO2 reductions across fuels’ supply chain.
Finally, fuels generating similar onboard emissions may differ substantially from an LCA perspective, highlighting the need for adopting a holistic regulatory framework for comparing marine fuels looking beyond merely combustion emissions.
EXPLORE MORE AT OLDENDORFF’S RESEARCH
