Furetank has achieved its first bunkering of 200 tonnes of ISCC-certified Bio-LNG, facilitated by partnerships with STX Group and Molgas. The Fure Viken tanker is now operating on this increasingly popular fuel. Furetank sees this move as a strategic advantage, particularly in light of tightening environmental regulations within the European Union, reports Furetank.
Green Transition
Bio-LNG, produced through a mass balance system, involves injecting certified biomethane into the gas grid and then withdrawing and liquefying an equivalent amount for maritime fuel. The new regulations do not differentiate between mass-balanced and off-grid biomethane, creating a new pathway for shipping to transition to renewable energy and overcoming biomethane supply and infrastructure challenges.
Furetank, using high-standard biomethane, considers this transaction a significant step in its clean fuel transition, supporting European agriculture and biogas production. CEO Björn Stignor highlighted their long-term efforts to enable larger-scale liquefied biogas deliveries.
STX Group and Molgas collaborated to source, liquefy, and deliver ISCC-certified Bio-LNG, recognized under the EU’s REDII, marking Molgas’s first delivery of a mass-balanced Bio-LNG bunker to a maritime customer in Norway.
Gas Propulsion
Gas propulsion offers advantages for replacing fossil fuels because methane’s molecular structure remains consistent regardless of its origin, unlike liquid fuels, which have varying physical properties and limited blending capabilities.
STX Group views this transaction as the emergence of a new fuel market. Sead Keric, Managing Partner of Renewable Gas at STX Group, stated that Bio-LNG provides an efficient solution for complying with FuelEU Maritime, a market-based regulation that incentivizes biofuel blending and penalizes non-compliance. He added that the combined effect of FuelEU Maritime and the EU ETS creates a compelling business case for renewable fuels, and this transaction demonstrates Bio-LNG’s potential for reducing transport sector emissions.
Reducing Emissions
Furetank views FuelEU Maritime as a positive incentive for reducing shipping emissions and hopes the IMO will adopt similar regulations for a globally level playing field.
Viktoria Höglund, Sustainability Strategist at Furetank, emphasized that this bunkering is a significant step towards carbon neutrality. She expressed Furetank’s commitment to facilitating larger volumes and easier access to biomethane as maritime fuel. Furetank has long advocated for policymakers to increase environmental standards and link them to economic incentives, which provides a competitive edge for their energy-efficient dual-fuel Vinga vessels, already operating on cleaner fuel than conventional gasoil.
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Source: Furetank
