St1 and St1 Biokraft have successfully supplied Swedish-produced liquefied biomethane to Terntank's vessel, Tern Ocean, at the Port of Gothenburg. It marks the first such delivery for both firms, who are now aiming to establish themselves as significant maritime suppliers of biomethane.

The recent bunkering operation, conducted at quay 519 in the Port of Gothenburg, served as a pilot test for St1 and St1 Biokraft, assessing their capabilities as suppliers of biomethane. This initiative also acted as a pressure test for collaboration across the entire value chain, which included participants Terntank and gas infrastructure owner Nordion Energi.

"In order to accelerate the maritime sector’s transition, it is essential that all actors across the value chain pull in the same direction, cooperate, and translate ambitions into practice. We are pleased to have all of this in place at the Port of Gothenburg," noted Therese Jällbrink, Head of Renewable Energy at the Port of Gothenburg.

Biomethane has been identified as a renewable fuel well-suited for maritime applications, benefitting from established practices for its handling within the shipping context. There is a growing long-term demand among shipping companies, coupled with an increase in availability from producers, making biomethane a viable option.

"Liquefied biomethane is an important part of the fuel palette that must be available to support the shipping industry's transition. It is one of the fuels the Port of Gothenburg is working with within the framework of green shipping corridors, aimed at creating the conditions for fossil-free logistics chains. This bunkering operation brings us another step closer to our ambition of becoming Scandinavia’s primary bunkering hub for alternative fuels," said Jällbrink.

St1 and St1 Biokraft have plans to scale up their operations, with ambitions to become large-scale suppliers of liquefied biomethane. This includes the establishment of several new production facilities across Sweden.

A significant development is set for 2026, when Nordion Energi will construct a liquefaction facility for biomethane at the Port of Gothenburg. This facility will connect to the West Sweden gas grid, providing new opportunities for biomethane producers looking to access the maritime market.

"Once the liquefaction plant is completed, we will have a solid solution in place at the Port of Gothenburg. This is a strategic step towards our goal of scaling up and offering competitive liquefied biomethane to the shipping sector, thereby taking a leading position in this segment," Ted Gustavsson, Head of Value Chain at St1 Biokraft, stated.