Maritime innovation: ABS whitepaper on Biofuels as Marine Fuel

ABS continues its series of industry-leading alternative fuels guidance with the publication of its latest whitepaper examining the potential of biofuels in shipping. The Sustainability Whitepaper: Biofuels as Marine Fuel gives an overview of the various types of marine liquid biofuels that are “drop-in” fuel options for replacing conventional fuels in both the near and long term and their potential to contribute to industry decarbonization goals. Other aspects considered include safety, vessel design implications and regulatory challenges.

“Biofuels have been identified as a highly promising carbon-neutral fuels that can enter the global market relatively quickly and help approach the IMO GHG reduction targets for 2030 and beyond. Being produced from renewable biomass, biofuels have the potential to offset the carbon emissions of a vessel due to the CO2 absorption of the feedstock, which can help counterbalance the combustion emissions. However, the total carbon reduction potential of different biofuels clearly depends on a range of factors related to their value chain. ABS is committed to ensuring owners, operators, shipbuilders and original equipment manufacturers are fully informed about its potential as they develop their decarbonization strategies,” said Georgios Plevrakis, ABS Director, Global Sustainability.
Determining the best fuel option to achieve the maritime industry’s current decarbonization targets can prove challenging. Through the ABS series of sustainability whitepapers focused on fuels, we break down the available options including their challenges, advantages, as well as other factors to take into consideration during the decision-making process.

The latest installment in this series, this Whitepaper focuses specifically on drop-in biofuels and answers questions such as:

·        What are the types of drop-in biofuels that are currently available? What might be available in the future?

·        What role do drop-in biofuels play in the short-term and long-term transition to decarbonization?

·        What will the infrastructure need to look like in order to make this a viable fuel option?

 A copy of the Whitepaper Biofuels as Marine Fuel is available for download below:

https://maritimecyprus.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ABS-Biofuels-as-Marine-fuels.pdf