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Alternative Fuels

IREC leads consortium developing zero-emission marine fuel for Port of Barcelona

SUPORT consortium has developed and validated an innovative process to produce sustainable maritime fuels from wastewater and CO₂ generated during its treatment.

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IREC leads consortium developing zero-emission marine fuel for Port of Barcelona

A consortium led by the Catalonia Institute for Energy Research (IREC) has developed and validated an innovative process to produce sustainable maritime fuels from wastewater and CO₂ generated during its treatment, in collaboration with the Port of Barcelona, Aigües de Barcelona, Cetaqua, and CIMNE.

The developed solution demonstrated that this transformation is technically feasible and enables progress towards greater environmental sustainability in sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as maritime transport. 

This milestone is aligned with the Energy Transition Plan of the Port of Barcelona, recently approved and aimed at decarbonising port activities.

Lucile Bernadet, project coordinator at IREC, said: “SUPORT demonstrates that it is possible to provide real solutions for the decarbonisation of sectors such as maritime transport, where direct electrification is not feasible.

“In addition, these fuels can be used in other types of engines, such as trucks. We believe this is a key step towards accelerating the energy transition.”

The process is based on the integration of two technologies developed at IREC, known as co-electrolysis and the Fischer–Tropsch catalytic reaction, which together improve the overall efficiency of the system. Cetaqua and Aigües de Barcelona have worked on processes to obtain biological hydrogen through the digestion of organic matter and sludge generated in the wastewater treatment plants they manage.

In parallel, CIMNE-CENIT has carried out an economic and environmental impact analysis that supports the potential of the technology as a viable and scalable solution, while the Port of Barcelona has studied the demand for this type of alternative fuel for maritime transport.

The fuel obtained is fully compatible with conventional fuels, allowing for partial or total substitution with the synthetic fuels produced, as they can be blended without difficulty, thereby reducing associated emissions.

“The SUPORT project has enabled laboratory-scale testing of a new sustainable fuel production technology that can help advance the decarbonisation of the maritime sector,” said Daniel Ruiz, Head of Sustainable Fuels at the Port of Barcelona.

“The next challenge is to scale this technology to an industrial level in order to expand the supply of zero-emission fuels that help decarbonise the entire logistics chain, both maritime and land-based.”

SUPORT represents an example of circular economy applied to the maritime sector, demonstrating that the recovery and reuse of waste and CO₂ is a viable pathway to achieving sustainable and competitive fuels, in line with European objectives for energy transition and climate neutrality by 2050.

The work at IREC has brought together researchers from two departments, coordinated by Lucile Bernadet and Marc Torrell from the Nanoionics and Fuel Cells Department, with the participation of Jordi Guilera from the Sustainable Fuels group of the Energy Storage, Harvesting and Catalysis Department.

 

Photo credit: IREC
Published: 6 February, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

PIL’s LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on LNG and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.

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July 21, 2026

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PIL's LNG dual-fuel boxship “Kota Elok” arrives in Singapore on maiden call

Singapore-based Pacific International Lines Pte Ltd on Monday (20 July) said its first 13,000 TEU LNG dual-fuel container vessel, Kota Elok, recently made her maiden call to Singapore on 15 July.

As the first of 13 new 13,000 TEU vessels joining its fleet, Kota Elok is equipped to operate on liquefied natural gas (LNG) and low-sulphur fuel oil that helps reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. 

The vessel also incorporated energy-saving features and digital technologies to reduce fuel consumption and enhance operational performance, as well as a bow windshield to improve aerodynamics, contributing to improved fuel efficiency and lower emissions over the course of long-haul voyages.

“Following Singapore, Kota Elok will continue her voyage on our East Coast Service 1 (ES1) route to South America, calling at ports in Brazil, Uruguay, and Argentina before returning to Asia,” the company said in a social media post. 

Kota Elok also became PIL’s first vessel to receive Lloyd’s Register certification for compliance with the IACS UR E26 and UR E27 cyber security requirements.

Developed by the International Association of Classification Societies (IACS), UR E26 and UR E27 are mandatory cyber resilience requirements for newbuild vessels contracted from 1 July 2024. 

 

Photo credit: Pacific International Lines
Published: 21 July, 2026

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LNG Bunkering

CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure.
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July 21, 2026

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CIMC SOE secures order for 12,000-cbm LNG bunkering vessel from Sinopec Clean Energy

China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering Co., Ltd. (CIMC SOE) recently signed a contract with Sinopec (Beijing) Clean Energy Co., Ltd. to build a 12,000-cubic metre (m3) LNG bunkering vessel, according to Chinese maritime media.

The vessel is scheduled for delivery in 2028 and will support Sinopec’s efforts to expand its presence in the marine clean energy sector.

Once operational, the vessel is expected to strengthen Sinopec’s domestic coastal LNG bunkering network and help address gaps in China’s LNG bunkering infrastructure.

With this signing , CIMC Pacific Offshore Engineering’s LNG bunkering vessel orderbook is further strengthened, maintaining its leading position in the global market for small and medium-sized LNG bunkering vessels.

The contract also marked another milestone for CIMC SOE, which has seen a sharp increase in orders and business performance this year amid a surge in domestic LNG vessel demand.

 

Photo credit: Nantong CIMC Sinopacific Offshore & Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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Nuclear

ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

KRISO says AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.
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July 21, 2026

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ABS awards AiP to Korean institute for SMR-powered container ship concept design

Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering (KRISO) on Thursday (16 July) received Approval in Principle (AiP) from the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) for its concept design of a 15,000 TEU Small Modular Reactor (SMR)-powered container ship utilising Molten Salt Reactor (MSR) technology.

KRISO said the AiP recognises the technical feasibility and safety of its concept design, marking an important milestone toward the development of next-generation nuclear-powered commercial ships.

“This achievement demonstrates international recognition of KRISO’s technological capabilities in the rapidly evolving field of nuclear-powered shipping, supporting the transition toward low-carbon maritime transport,” it said. 

Building on this milestone, KRISO will continue advancing basic and detailed ship design, paving the way for future demonstration and commercialisation of SMR-powered vessels. 

Through continued R&D and international collaboration, KRISO remains committed to strengthening next-generation maritime technologies and contributing to the safe deployment of nuclear propulsion in the maritime industry.

 

Photo credit: Korea Research Institute of Ships & Ocean Engineering
Published: 21 July, 2026

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