New protocols, standards and procedures are needed for bunkering biofuels as shipping expands its use of sustainable fuels, said experts during Riviera Maritime Media’s Fuel testing for the age of decarbonisation webinar
This event was held 15 February 2023 as part of Riviera’s Marine Propulsion Webinar Week. On the panel were Mash Energy head of research and development Krishna Chakravarty, Lloyd’s Register FOBAS global operations manager Naeem Javaid, Marine Fuels Alliance executive officer Anthony Mollet, MAN Energy Solutions senior engine specialist Klaus Petersen and Veritas Petroleum Services senior sales manager Thomas Schmidt.
Biofuels have drawn rising interest as a drop-in fuel capable of reducing CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions. These fuels, however, can exhibit poor long-term stability and quality variations and off-spec or contaminated fuel can put crew safety and ship operations at risk. Risks can be mitigated by better understanding and testing of bio-based fuels and blends and introducing new standards.
Mr Javaid introduced the wide variety of biofuels available to the marine industry with different approaches to feedstocks, production, processing and blending. He said these biofuels have different energy, chemistry and parameters, which could affect engine performance, fuel oil filtering, storage and machinery.
There are concerns over the quality, variance, compatibility, microbial activity and oxidation stability of biofuels, plus availability, carbon intensity and price.
“To get accelerated uptake of biofuels, there needs some statutory alignment,” said Mr Javaid. “There is only one standard, and that is in Singapore.”
The International Standards Organisation is working on a standard covering marine biofuels.
“Production and supply chain issues are top priority and are a big chunk of discussions,” said Mr Javaid. “Regulations are not aligned for biofuels adoption, so there needs to be frameworks for adoption in marine applications.”
Mr Schmidt said shipowners and operators must “respect the different properties of biofuels” and the potential differences from what is delivered on board and what was ordered. Owners need to have better understanding and knowledge of biofuels and “manage fuel quality on board”.
This way any issues can be tackled and risks mitigated through testing and better information.
“Feedback from customers is there are no major problems, but there are challenges,” said Mr Schmidt. “Good planning and selection of biofuels is important to ensure they operate trouble-free.”
Owners can use laboratory testing, fuel-quality monitoring and analytical packages to reduce risks.
Mr Petersen said two-stroke and four-stroke engines can handle biofuels and blends. In the future they could burn a combination of alternative fuels.
“A methanol engine could use biofuels in the future,” he said. “There is talk about methanol and ammonia, but it is much easier to use biofuels.”
Biofuels have no sulphur and reduce NOx production in exhaust. There is experience in using biofuels in MAN engines in other industries and marine applications have been approved by the original engine manufacturer.
The next focus for MAN is approving the use of biofuels derived from processing residuals from other production in marine engines, which could lower the costs of fuels.
Mr Mollet provided perspectives from the independent bunkering sector and agreed more knowledge, guidance and training is required for growing the biofuels supply chain.
“There will be a big shift to biofuels, but there has to be a risk-based approach for all in the supply chain,” he said.
He said shipowners and operators should “engage with all stakeholders as there are so many decisions to take.”
Companies involved in the supply chain cover producers, suppliers and sellers of bunker fuels, all of which need to understand where to direct investments.
“Protocols and frameworks are needed. There is a need for training, increased knowledge and new specifications,” said Mr Mollet. “We are entering a market where there are no precedents.”
Mr Chakravarty agreed protocols and guidance are required for producing biofuels for the shipping industry. Mash Energy is developing new methods of producing biofuels using residuals from other fuel production. “There should be detailed validation for each plant, fuel and certification.”
Webinar poll results
Attendees were asked to vote on a series of poll questions during the webinar. Here is a summary of the results.
How would you characterise your company’s experience with biofuels?
Expert: extensive experience and knowledge in the area; an industry leader: 8%
Advanced: high level of experience and developed significant knowledge and skills: 15%
Intermediate: moderate experience and with some knowledge and skills: 31%
Beginning: started to gain experience, but still learning and have limited knowledge and skills: 23%
Novice: new to the area and with little to no experience: 8%
Zero experience: not active: 15%
Will biofuels be a mainstream option for the maritime industry within 20 years?
Certainly: 20%
Probably: 26%
Possibly: 36%
Unlikely: 18%
Will there be enough biomass for transport?
Certainly: 0%
Probably: 16%
Possibly: 35%
Unlikely: 49%
To what extent do you currently use fuel-quality testing to support your fuel management?
Not at all: 16%
Standard ISO 8217 testing: 60%
Extended analyses, including additional parameters such as checking on chemical contamination: 24%
What is your current or planned choice of fuel to reduce CO2 and GHG emissions to help you achieve the IMO targets set for 2030 and 2050?
LNG: 3%
Biofuels: 31%
Methanol: 26%
Ammonia: 6%
A combination of above: 34%
Is there more engagement and uptake of training by shipowners and operators than by existing fuel suppliers in the area of alternative fuels?
Strongly disagree: 7%
Disagree: 7%
Do not know: 55%
Agree: 24%
Strongly Agree: 7%
Source: Riviera Maritime Media
On Riviera’s Fuel testing for the age of decarbonisation webinar panel were (left to right) Marine Fuels Alliance executive officer Anthony Mollet, MAN Energy Solutions senior engine specialist Klaus Petersen, Lloyd’s Register FOBAS global operations manager Naeem Javaid, Mash Energy head of research and development Krishna Chakravarty and Veritas Petroleum Services senior sales manager Thomas Schmidt.
© 2023 Riviera Maritime Media Ltd.