UECC Pioneers Spain’s First Truck-to-Ship Biomethane Delivery

United European Car Carriers (UECC) has achieved a significant milestone by performing Spain’s first truck-to-ship refueling operation with liquefied biomethane (LBM). This historic event, as reported by UECC, took place at the Port of Vigo, where LBM, produced by Naturgy in Galicia, was pumped directly into the tanks of UECC’s multi-fuel LNG battery hybrid Pure Car and Truck Carrier, Auto Advance. The operation, supervised by the port’s president, underscores Spain’s potential in biomethane production.

Expanding Regional Fuel Pathways

This delivery allows UECC, a leader in sustainable European shortsea RoRo trade, to diversify its regional sources of LBM beyond its main hub in Zeebrugge, where it has a long-term supply agreement with Titan Clean Fuels. The event also marked the first physical molecule delivery of LBM, as opposed to mass-balanced alternatives, showcasing UECC’s commitment to exploring multiple delivery pathways. The company’s Sail for Change program further supports the use of LBM across its fleet to reduce Scope 3 emissions for prominent vehicle manufacturers. We view Spain as a promising market for biomethane production and so it’s great to get this first delivery over the line,” says UECC’s Energy & Sustainability Manager Daniel Gent.

Promoting the Circular Economy

UECC’s refueling initiative aligns with Naturgy’s mission to enhance renewable energy production by converting agricultural and livestock waste into biomethane. This strengthens the regional circular economy in Galicia. In partnership with Reganosa and Repsol, Naturgy aims to produce 1 terawatt-hour of biomethane annually, which would meet 7% of Galicia’s gas import needs while reducing CO₂ emissions by 500,000 tonnes per year.

Alignment with FuelEU Maritime Goals

LBM’s sustainability and negative carbon intensity make it well-suited for compliance with FuelEU Maritime (FEUM) regulations. UECC is leveraging renewable fuels to generate a compliance surplus under FEUM while reducing EU ETS costs and enhancing its Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) rating. These efforts are pivotal in advancing UECC’s corporate sustainability strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2040.

A Vision for the Future

“Securing additional sources of renewable fuel contributes to our decarbonisation pathway, which includes not only FEUM compliance, lower EU ETS costs and increased CII rating, but is also a key element of our corporate long-term sustainability strategy to hit net zero by 2040,” Gent says. He adds, “We hope the LBM truck delivery in Spain will be the first of many.”