BHP & GCMD Trial Multi-Feedstock Biofuels In Existing Bunkering Infrastructure

BHP and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) have undertaken a pilot project wherein they blended biofuels from two feedstocks, used cooking oil and waste animal fats and introduced the marine fuel into a bulk carrier chartered by BHP.

Berge Lyngor is owned and operated by Berge Bulk and transports BHP iron ore from Western Australia to China.

While sailing on the bio-blend, it can decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 79% per voyage compared to very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO).

It bunkered in Singapore with a B100 bio-blend comprising 50% tallow-derived biodiesel, supplied by HAMR Energy, and 50% used cooking oil supplied by Mitsui & Co Energy Trading Singapore.

Mitsui blended the fuel, and Dan-Bunkering executed the bunkering operation, performed by Global Energy’s barge MT Maple.

The trial will also help find how biofuel from several feedstocks can be effectively blended, handled and introduced in real-world conditions using existing infrastructure and in present supply chains.

The insights from the project will also aid in finding solutions relating to enhancing marine fuel quality while lowering emissions and the resultant performance of the vessel.

Biofuels in maritime are dependent on cooking oil, a feedstock that is not widely available now, and so waste animal fats are another option to boost the supply of low-emission marine fuels.

The project is co-funded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore under the Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund.

Diversity in biofuels will offer shipowners and operators more flexibility to choose the marine fuel based on cost, availability, and lifecycle emissions performance.

Biofuels from different feedstocks have varying properties that impact operations.

For instance, there could be corrosion due to oxidation, or clogging in the fuel system due to wax formation and accumulation.

These are the points that the pilot project wants to assess.

BHP Vice President Maritime & Supply Chain Excellence Emma Roberts said, “At a time when fuel security is vitally important to global trade, building opportunities for future biofuels is critical.

Along with LNG and ammonia, biodiesel has a big role to play in the future supply of sustainable marine fuels.”