Can Biofuels Help Provide Clean Propulsion for Shipping, Now and in the Future?

Abstract

E4tech conducted an important study (in 2018) for the Dutch Biofuels Platform and the Port of Rotterdam, as part of the development of a roadmap for decarbonising shipping in the Netherlands. In particular, biofuels can provide large reductions in GHG and non-GHG emissions, with a range of solutions for decarbonisation in the short and longer term. They offer greater decarbonisation potential compared to fossil alternatives aimed at tackling air quality emissions (e.g. LNG). The biofuels analysed were hydro-treated vegetable oil (HVO – including from waste oils and fats), Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME), straight vegetable oil (SVO), ethanol (both conventional and advanced production processes), bio-methanol, bio-LNG, Fischer-Tropsch diesel (FT-diesel) and Upgraded Pyrolysis Oil (UPO). The study determined the most attractive biofuel options based on criteria such as GHG reduction potential, readiness of production, cost and compatibility with the current vessel fleet in each shipping sub-sector: deep-sea, short-sea and inland shipping. It also provided recommendation on coordinated interventions from the range of actors in shipping industry that can support the uptake of biofuels, overcoming a range of technical, economic and operational barriers to their use.