Feedstock availability the biggest challenge in widespread biofuel adoption - LR report
Low production volumes due to constrained feedstock availability pose a major challenge for widespread adoption of biofuels, a recent report by classification society Lloyd's Register (LR) reveals.
PHOTO: Port of Rotterdam. Getty Images
The report released by the classification society focuses on the future use of biofuels. It states that biofuels hold immense potential as a “drop-in replacement for fossil fuels”.
Current biofuel forecasts for the shipping sector reveal uncertainty on feedstock availability in the coming decades, the report states. It also points out that feedstock availability for the marine sector faces tough competition from other transport sectors and directly impacts biofuel prices.
To counter this, more research on “unestablished and non-standardised biofuels” from feedstocks like Cashew Nut Shell Liquid (CSNL) is needed to demonstrate whether it is “bunker-safe”, the report argues.
CNSL, which qualifies for advanced biofuel rebates through the Dutch HBE system, is plagued by quality issues that can trigger engine problems. In March this year, an LR report revealed that many ships in the ARA hub received bunker fuel blended with CNSL which caused engine damage. It also noted that over the last year, at least four ships reported “similar operational issues” after loading CNSL-blended biofuel in Rotterdam.
The shipping industry has long been eyeing CNSL as a potential biofuel feedstock. But maritime decarbonisation firm Veritas Petroleum Services (VPS) has cautioned that CNSL is highly acidic and requires more testing to confirm its suitability as fuel.
At least one major biofuel supplier in the ARA hub has been conducting tests for years on CNSL blended with Marine Gasoil (MGO) but is yet to make a significant breakthrough.
By Manjula Nair
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