Biofuels for boats and shipping

Biodiesel as a shipping fuel

Biodiesel is a good candidate as a shipping fuel, being biodegradable, non-toxic and essentailly free of sulphur and aromatics. It can be used in many marine applications with little or no need for engine modification [Source: www.biodiesel.org].

Lloyd's Register is to play a major role in a two year programme to test the suitability of biodiesel for use in powering marine engines. The feasibility study will take place on board the Maersk Line container ship, Maersk Kalmar. Collaborators in the biodiesel project are Maersk Line, Maersk Tankers, Maersk Supply Service, Maersk Drilling, Maersk Ship Management, Lloyd’s Register’s Strategic Research Group, and a consortium of Dutch subcontractors. The project is being part funded by the Dutch government and co-ordinated by Maersk Maritime Technology (MSM) [Source: Lloyds Register].

Tests of algal biofuels in shipping

In December and January 2011, Maersk and the US Navy have both tested biofuels based on algal oils. The navy plans to continue the tests throughout 2012 as part of its green fleet initiative and aims to cut its fossil oil use by 50% by 2020.

Currently Solazyme has a contract to proivde 450000 gallons of algal biofules for the ongoing US Navy trials.

Maersk envisages in the region of 10% of the world's shiiping fleets could be powered by biofuels by 2030 [Source: The Guardian, 14-01-12].

LNG (and biomethane) as a shipping fuel

Biomethane is also gaining interest in the marine industry. Operators are looking increasingly seriously at using liquefied natural gas as an engine fuel. The Rolls-Royce Bergen K gas engine has been certified to power the world's first major car and passenger ferries running on LNG. There is a need for LNG storage facilities at ports to facilitate use of this technology.

Methanol and solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) technology for shipping

The FP6 METHAPU project (Validation of renewable methanol based auxiliary power systems for commercial vessels). View general presentation of METHAPU project (PDF, 760kB)

The consortium consists of

Wärtsilä, Finland
Wallenius Marine, Sweden
Lloyd's Register, United Kingdom
University of Genoa, Thermochemical Power Group, Italy
Det Norske Veritas (DNV), Norway

The strategic objectives of the METHAPU project are:

Assess the maturity of methanol using technology on board a commercial vessel
Validate marine compatible methanol running solid oxide fuel cell technology
Innovate necessary technical justifications for the use of methanol on board cargo vessels involved in international trade in order to support the introduction of necessary regulations to allowing the use of methanol as a marine fuel
Assess short-term and long-term environmental impacts of the application
Enable future research activities on larger marine compatible solid oxid fuel cell (SOFC) units and methanol based economy

In May 2010 the METHAPU fuel cell system, comprising the methanol tank container and the fuel cell room was installed onboard the car carrier M/V Undine A major aim of the project is to support the introduction of necessary regulations to allow the use of methanol as a marine fuel. The specific components of the technology to be validated are methanol fuel bunkering, distribution, storage system and methanol consuming SOFC unit. [Source: METHAPU project website].

Earthrace

The Earthrace powerboat made headlines in 2008, circumnavigating the globe in a record time of 60 days, 23 hours, 49 minutes powered by 100% biodiesel from sustainable sources. The boat is now working with Sea Shepherd on marine conservation.

© Copyright SGC Energia SGPS S.A
"Earthrace is one of the most amazing vessels ever built. She is a wavepiercer, and can submarine up to 7m (23ft) underwater. She can travel over 13,000 nautical miles (over half way around the planet) on one tank of fuel...." View at larger size >>