The Week in Alternative Fuels

Here are some key developments in alternative bunker fuels from the past week.

PHOTO: Mediterranean Shipping Company’s LNG fuel cell-powered cruise ship MSC World Europa. MSC Cruises

A new IMO study has evaluated regulatory frameworks around cleaner marine fuel alternatives. According to the study, there are currently no mandatory fuel quality regulations for fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), which are used as drop-in biofuels on an increasing number of vessels. It argued that frameworks were needed to assess the environmental impacts of ethanol, methanol and LNG.

LNG and other methane-based fuels made several headlines this week. Gas supplier Gasum announced plans to expand its LNG bunker operations to the ARA and to increase availability of LNG and liquefied biomethane. Gasum's vice president of maritime Jacob Granqvist argued that northwest Europe offers a "huge emerging market" for LNG bunker fuel, which Gasum is well positioned to capture.

Japan’s Osaka Gas teamed up with Australian oil company Santos to produce synthetic methane (e-methane) from green hydrogen and CO2 in Australia. The companies aim to export 60,000 mt/year of e-methane to Japan and other markets from 2030. LNG-powered ships can run on both liquefied biomethane and e-methane without requiring any modifications since methane is the primary component of LNG.

In the vessel space, bulk carrier company Himalaya Shipping took delivery of its second LNG dual-fuel dry bulk carrier. Himalaya plans to increase its fleet of LNG-fuelled dry bulkers to 12 by 2024. It expects to take delivery of a second vessel in the next 45 days, followed by another three by the end of this year.

Mediterranean Shipping Company has tested Bloom Energy’s LNG-powered solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) for auxiliary power one of its cruise ships. The fuel cells reduced the vessel’s “carbon emissions by 30% with no methane slippage,” the companies said.

By Konica Bhatt

Here is our selection of five top alternative fuels stories from this week:

IMO maps regulatory readiness of alternative fuels

Gasum eyes LNG and LBM bunker market in the ARA

Osaka Gas partners with Santos to produce e-methane in Australia

Himalaya Shipping takes delivery of second dual-fuel bulk carrier

MSC cruise ship tests Bloom Energy’s LNG fuel cells for auxiliary power