Interferry2023 Conference Guide
Biofuels a viable decarbonization option for ferry industry
A DNV white paper – “Biofuels in Shipping” – provides an overview of the role of biofuels in shipping’s future energy mix. Biofuels can also play a key role in the decarbonization of the ferry industry, under the right conditions.
Biofuels, in the form of methane, fuel oils or methanol, are increasingly in demand in shipping due to their perception as short-term decarbonization solutions. Biogas and biodiesel are particularly attractive to ferry operators as they can be used as “drop-in” fuels.
This means that biofuels can be mixed with similar versions of fossil fuels and used to power existing engines, negating the need for large-scale capital investments which are necessary for other decarbonization options, such as retrofitting to methanol fuelled engines.
“Ferries are good candidates for biofuels,” says Hans Eivind Siewers, Segment Director of Passenger Ships and RoRo at DNV, “They generally have short, regular routes, often between two ports, which means that they are quite predictable and easy to supply with fuel from one port.” Biofuels are made by converting organic matter, also known as biomass, into a fuel product. Biomass absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere during growth, which gives biofuels the potential to be carbon-neutral, even though CO2 is emitted during combustion. Biomass from non-food or non-feed sources is termed advanced and can be regarded as sustainable, depending on the criteria.
While sustainable biofuels are an attractive decarbonization option for shipowners, access to sufficient quantities is a challenge. DNV’s white paper shows that global production of advanced biofuels stands at 11 Mtoe per annum in 2023, and forecasts this to rise to 500–1,300 Mtoe per year by 2050. The paper estimates that shipping would need between 20% and 50% of this supply if it was to decarbonize primarily using biofuels, an amount which would be challenging to obtain in the face of stiff competition from other sectors like aviation and road transport. At present, biofuels account for just 0.1% of total maritime fuel consumption.
There are other decarbonization options for ferries, such as battery power, but a tightening regulatory environment means that additional short-term solutions need to be found, in particular for the existing fleet. “The European Union is demanding emissions reductions already from 2025, which means that ‘business as usual’ is not an option,” says Siewers, “Biofuels such as biogas and biodiesel can provide immediate decarbonization results and help ferry operators avoid paying for emission allowances or penalties.”
Ferry owners should take several practical considerations before adopting biofuels, such as what feedstock they are based on, how they are produced, and what their ideal storage conditions are.
“We recommend ferry owners to engage with engine manufacturers in seeking the best possible solutions when using biofuels,” says Siewers, “This means finding a realistic solution which can deliver effective decarbonization results, while also taking into account other factors like long-term fuel availability, safety and economic viability.”
The decarbonization of the ferry industry is a complex conundrum without a clear solution. While biofuels can be effective in delivering real results, they are just one piece of the puzzle, and all available options need to be explored.