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Alternative Fuels

Rolls-Royce discusses adoption of HVO, methanol alternative bunker fuels for coastal passenger transport segment

Different sectors in the marine industry – deep sea shipping, coastal passenger shipping, yachts and naval – will develop differently when using alternative and climate-friendly fuels, spokesman tells Manifold Times.

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A Rolls-Royce spokesperson for the mtu brand, a power solutions provider for power passenger ships, ferries and yachts, recently offered Singapore bunkering publication Manifold Times its perspective on the adoption of ammonia, Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), and methanol as marine fuels for the shipping sector.

Ammonia is amongst future bunker fuels being considered, but it seems is there is no operating ammonia-fuelled marine engine yet. Why is it so?

We are watching closely where the use of alternative fuels is going. In Rolls-Royce Power Systems' markets, it does not currently look like ammonia is going to become a big thing. For operators and owners of vessels that are often used for coastal passenger transport, we see the trend moving towards HVO and methanol, which are easier to handle.

The high toxicity of ammonia is a big threat especially on board of vessels with limited space and limited escape routes. But on the other hand ammonia may offer CO2 free propulsion with a comparably low cost fuel. This makes it attractive enough to be observed.

What is Roll-Royce's forecast of the future marine fuels mix leading towards IMO 2030 and IMO 2050?

From today's perspective, the different sectors in the marine industry – deep sea shipping, coastal passenger shipping, yachts and naval - will develop differently when using alternative and climate-friendly fuels.

For large-scale shipping - container ships, for example - ammonia is emerging as an alternative fuel as well as for come cases laughing gas. However, this is not the market in which Rolls-Royce's business unit Power Systems operates with its mtu brand.

For our mtu marine engines, which often power passenger ships, ferries or yachts, the trend is moving towards two other alternative fuels that are technically easier to handle than ammonia and that enjoy greater acceptance in the passenger shipping industry:

HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil), a second-generation plant-based fuel made from waste materials e.g. from the food industry, has the potential to replace partly fossil diesel. Most mtu engines are already approved for it. HVO is already available today and will soon be available in larger volumes as demand for it increases. With HVO, a CO2 reduction of up to 90 percent can be achieved on balance. This is because during combustion, the CO2 that the plants absorbed during photosynthesis from the air is released into the atmosphere. Some yacht manufacturers already deliver their new yachts with HVO in the tanks.

Methanol can be produced in a climate-friendly way with electrical energy from renewable sources and CO2 which was captured from a sustainable source. On balance, Methanol is virtually climate-neutral. It is easy to store and handle on the ship and the necessary ship infrastructure can be realised at reasonable expense. mtu methanol engines for marine use are currently under development. The most important thing here is that sufficient green methanol is available in the foreseeable future.

In principle, it is not only technical feasibility, supply and demand that govern the market, but regulatory framework conditions such as laws and ordinances as well as government support for the use of such fuels and their production can have a decisive influence. Powertrain manufacturers such as Rolls-Royce must recognise the trends in their markets and provide appropriate technical solutions. They have comparatively little influence on the future fuel mix.

Since methanol and ammonia are acidic fuels in nature, what steps/technologies are the engine manufacturer taking to protect their power plants from these new types of fuels?

Of course for every new fuel the compatibility of materials needs to be checked. Depending on the fuel specification components containing fuel like fuel tanks and fuel lines need to be adapted for its fuel. For methanol this is a solvable task, as there is experience in racing and other types of engines. Methanol compatibility with stainless steel is good, but of course coatings are also reasonable options. Depending on the use, other materials and manufacturing processes are used, for example other coatings, seals or lubricants.

More or less the same applies to ammonia. Ammonia is highly toxic, but it is used since decades, therefore there is experience with materials.

 

Photo credit: Rolls-Royce
Published: 31 July, 2023

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Biofuel

GoodFuels ceases bio bunker fuel deliveries in Singapore after near three-year run

‘Whilst the GoodFuels team will continue its efforts to decarbonise global shipping from the Amsterdam office, we will be stopping all biofuel deliveries in Singapore with immediate effect,’ says Jing Xieng Han.

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Goodfuels

Biofuel supplier GoodFuels, FincoEnergies’ sustainable fuels brand, has stopped all biofuel deliveries in Singapore with immediate effect, according to Jing Xieng Han, General Manager of GoodFuels Asia Pacific, on Wednesday (6 November). 

GoodFuels first announced the opening of its first office in Singapore in February 2022. The Singapore office was GoodFuels’ second office and its first outside of Europe. 

At the time, GoodFuels said Singapore was chosen as the target for its first international expansion because of its importance to the global shipping industry and its leading position as a key bunkering hub, with mature bunkering infrastructure that will support the delivery of marine biofuel.

Jing said FincoEnergies has decided to consolidate GoodFuels operations in the Asia Pacific and ARA regions. 

“Whilst the GoodFuels team will continue its efforts to decarbonise global shipping from the Amsterdam office, we will be stopping all biofuel deliveries in Singapore with immediate effect,” she said in a social media post. 

“Our Amsterdam team remains dedicated to furthering the decarbonization of global shipping 'the Good Way' and I wish them continued success.”

Jing also announced that she will be departing GoodFuels Asia Pacific, effective 6 November as well. 

“It has been a privilege to contribute to the integration of biofuels into the bunkering sector in Singapore over the past three years,” she said.

“The rapid evolution of the industry has been mind-blowing, and I fondly recall addressing numerous queries on the technical feasibilities of biofuels as bunker fuels when I first launched our Singapore office in early 2022.”

Related: GoodFuels opens first Singapore office to meet growing biofuel demand

 

Photo credit: GoodFuels
Published: 7 November, 2024

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Biofuel

Chimbusco Pan Nation completes first B24 bio bunker fuel delivery in Singapore

CPN supplied 1,000 metric tonnes of ISCC-EU Certified B24 marine biofuel for “YM WITNESS”, a containership of Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp on 16 October.

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Chimbusco Pan Nation completes first B24 bio bunker fuel delivery in Singapore

Hong Kong-based marine fuel oil supplier Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical (CPN) on Wednesday (6 November) completed the supply of 1,000 metric tonnes of ISCC-EU Certified B24 marine biofuel for YM WITNESS, a containership of Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp on 16 October. 

“This also embarks on CPN’s new journey to arrange supplying marine biofuel in Singapore,” the firm said in a social media post. 

B24 marine biofuel is a blend of 24% B100 biodiesel and Marine Fuel Oil, which significantly reduces carbon emissions and lowers its carbon footprint. Such product aligns with global efforts to combat climate change and reduces environmental impact. 

“CPN is committed to be the frontrunner in the transition towards more sustainable marine fuel options. This biofuel delivery reinforces CPN’s commitment to realizing eco-friendly port energy solutions and global decarbonisation goals,” it added. 

 

Photo credit: Chimbusco Pan Nation Petro-Chemical
Published: 7 November, 2024

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LNG Bunkering

Titan completes LNG bunkering operation in Port of Zeebrugge

Titan supplied newly built PCTC “Peony Leader” using bunkering vessel “Optimus”, marking the PCTC’s maiden LNG bunkering operation.

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Titan completes LNG bunkering operation in Port of Zeebrugge

LNG bunker fuel supplier Titan on Wednesday (6 November) said it has completed a LNG bunkering operation in the Port of Zeebrugge. 

Titan supplied the newly built Peony Leader Pure Car and Truck Carrier (PCTC) using Optimus – one of its LNG bunkering vessels (LBV).

“This was the maiden voyage for the Peony Leader, as well as the first time it bunkered LNG while in service. The Optimus’ crew closely supported throughout the process, providing guidance and information to the seafarers onboard the vehicle carrier,” it said in a social media post. 

“Our commercial team also visited CSP Zeebrugge to meet the new client, Chimbusco. With a greatly increasing number of PCTC newbuilds being LNG dual-fuelled, we look forward to many more successful LNG bunkering operations with Chimbusco and other shipowners in this segment.”

 

Photo credit: Titan
Published: 7 November, 2024

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