BC Ferries looks to transition to higher-percentage biofuel blends in Vancouver
Canadian ferry operator BC Ferries says it will transition all of its vessels based in Metro Vancouver from using conventional fuels to run on B20 biodiesel blends.
PHOTO: The Queen of Oak Bay sailing against a backdrop of mountains. BC Ferries
B20 biodiesel is a common biofuel blend which consists of up to 20% biodiesel blended with convention diesel. The biodiesel component is made from vegetable oils or animal fats.
BC Ferries started trialling B20 on its ro-ro vessels Queen of Oak Bay and Queen of Surrey 2021. The company claims that the blend has had no adverse impacts on the ship’s machineries and functioning.
Biodiesel is chemically identical to conventional diesel but is made from vegetable oils or animal fats and can be used as a drop-in fuel without any engine modifications.
BC Ferries claims to have reduced its greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 13,200 mt from October 2021 to June 2022 through these two trials.
This transition to biodiesel B20 is a step-up for the company as it currently runs its fleet on B5 biodiesel fuel, which has only 5% biodiesel blended with oil-based fuel.
BC Ferries says it will also trial B100, or 100% biodiesel, and be on a path to reduce its GHG emissions by 27% by 2030, from a 2008 baseline.
Bio-bunkers has been gaining momentum recently. Many shipowners have been looking to reduce their fleets' near-term carbon emissions with blends of biofuel and either fuel oil or gasoil bunker grades.
Last month, Dutch logistics company Samskip revealed that it has witnessed a 90% reduction in CO2 emissions from using a B100 biofuel supplied by GoodFuels.
Among a flurry of other recent trials, Germany-based cruise line Hapag-Lloyd Cruises successfully concluded trial run of a biofuel blend supplied by Dutch supplier GoodFuels. And Japanese conglomerate Marubeni Corporation completed a pilot run of a biofuel blend onboard an ethylene carrier.
By Tuhin Roy
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