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DNV: Long-term use of biofuels as marine fuel depends on supply


DNV: Long-term use of biofuels as marine fuel depends on supply

16 January 2025

Biofuels such as FAME and HVO could play a significant role for the decarbonization of the maritime sector. However, limited availability may hinder their long-term use, DNV states in its latest white paper, published today.

With an increased focus on transitioning to fossil-free operations, the use of biofuels in shipping has grown in the shipping industry. In ithe white paper Biofuels in Shipping, DNV identifies 60 ports worldwide that have conducted biofuel bunkering operations since 2015.

However, this does not mean biofuel usage is substantial. In 2023, the maritime sector consumed 0.7 million tonnes of oil equivalents (Mtoe) of liquid biofuels, accounting for just 0.6% of the global supply of liquid biofuels and 0.3% of the shipping industry's total energy consumption. Significantly more liquid biofuels are used in other sectors.

Nevertheless, the use of biofuels is growing and is expected to increase further as new regulations, such as the EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime, impose stricter emission reduction requirements. For now, the market remains the primary driver, but moving forward, limited supply will significantly impact the shipping industry's ability to adopt biofuels, DNV predicts after interviewing eight different biofuel suppliers.

“The long-term future of the maritime biofuel market hinges on the availability of sustainable biomass at an affordable level, as well as competition with other sectors. Shipowners should, therefore, aim to explore energy efficiency measures and alternative fuels as part of their wider decarbonization strategies, while utilizing biofuels where they are available and affordable", Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV Maritime, comments in a press release.

A significant portion of biofuel use in shipping involves fuel blends where biofuels, such as FAME and HVO, are combined with conventional oil products. In the white paper, DNV reviews the key technical and operational aspects of using biofuels as "drop-in" fuels and provides recommendations for shipowners. These include carefully verifying fuel quality, ensuring compatibility with existing onboard systems, and continuously monitoring fuel performance to ensure safe and efficient use.

Øyvind Sekkesæter, Consultant in Maritime Environmental Technology at DNV and Lead Author of “Biofuels in Shipping”, added: “The technical compatibility of key marine biofuels like FAME and HVO varies from ship to ship, making it essential to assess each case individually. Doing so will ensure that the fuel specification and quality are compatible with their intended application, minimizing the risk of damage to equipment and loss of power onboard the vessel.”

DNV’s new white paper on biofuels aligns with the classification society’s previous report on the topic from 2023. Read our article on that here.

Research has also shown that it is possible to supply the entire Swedish shipping industry with domestically produced biogas. You can read about that here.


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