Sign up
Log in Sign up
This is a legacy page. Please click here to view the latest version.
Mon 27 Mar 2017, 10:33 GMT

Study to examine developing bio LNG as transport fuel in Rotterdam


Project partners aim to complete the study by the second half of this year.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority has announced that it will be carrying out a joint study with the Dutch National LNG Platform which focuses on the development of liquefied natural gas (LNG) from renewable sources as a transport fuel in the port of Rotterdam.

The study is to consist of three main elements. The first will focus on examining the existing and expected availability of production technologies and processes up until 2030. The second part will be a market study that looks at the availability of sustainable feedstock and the future development of demand. The last element will be business cases for the production, transport and transhipment of bio LNG in Rotterdam's port area.

A total of eight companies that are members of the Dutch National LNG Platform will be supporting the study with their technical, legal and financial expertise and knowledge of the market. The project partners aim to complete the study by the second half of 2017. Based on the research findings, it will then be decided whether - and if so, in which form - Rotterdam will be developing a bio LNG programme.

Explaining the reason for the study, Port of Rotterdam Authority stated that electric propulsion systems were currently not a viable alternative for maritime shipping.

Comparing fuel oil and diesel fuel to LNG, the port said that LNG is "a far cleaner option", with 15 percent lower carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, 85 percent less nitrogen oxides (NOx), zero sulphur emissions and particulates, and quieter engines.

When arguing the case for bio LNG, the port explained that the emitted CO2 is part of a so-called short cycle where CO2 emissions are actually neutralised by the associated CO2 uptake.

"In other words, bio LNG is a sustainable option that can be both used as a stand-alone fuel or mixed with fossil-based LNG," Port of Rotterdam Authority said.

"Relying on bio LNG rather than regular LNG allows users to drastically reduce CO2 emission levels," the port added.

LNG is already supplied as a transport fuel in Rotterdam to shipping and heavy road transport at the Gas Access to Europe (Gate) terminal, which is operated by Gasunie and Vopak.

LNG supplier Shell has been importing and storing product at the facility since October 2015.

Electric   LNG   Vopak   Netherlands  Rotterdam (NL) 
Core Power, Athlos Energy, Deon Policy Institute and ABS logos. Greece floating nuclear study finds no fundamental barriers to implementation  

A PESTLE assessment of floating nuclear power plants in Greece identifies framework gaps, not feasibility barriers.
Northern Pathliner alongside Bergen LNG vessel. Molgas completes LNG cool-down and bunkering for Northern Pathliner at Northern Lights terminal in Norway  

Operation carried out at Øygarden facility, with K Line and Integr8 Fuels in the supply chain.
Rendering of a G2 Ocean OHGC vessel. G2 Ocean expands fleet with six future-fuel ready gantry crane vessels  

Open hatch specialist adds vessels and jet sail technology as part of a broad fleet renewal programme.
CMA CGM Adventure vessel at Port of Mombasa. LNG-powered CMA CGM Adventure makes first call at the Port of Mombasa  

Kenya Ports Authority receives its first large LNG-fuelled container vessel.
Liam Blackmore, Lloyd's Register. Maritime trio shapes IMO safety guidelines for ammonia as marine fuel  

Real-world operational experience feeds directly into new IMO ammonia fuel safety framework.
Repsol industrial complex in Puertollano. Repsol starts large-scale renewable fuel production at second Iberian plant  

Spanish energy company's Puertollano facility adds 200,000 tonnes per year of renewable diesel capacity.
SD Aisemaht vessel. World's first dual-fuel methanol escort tug receives full class certification  

ABS grants certification to SD Aisemaht, built by Sanmar Shipyards for Canada's Trans Mountain Expansion Project.
CMB.Tech and TFG Marine signing. CMB.Tech raises TFG Marine stake to 15% and consolidates bunker procurement through joint venture  

CMB.Tech increases its equity stake in TFG Marine and commits its entire fleet’s bunker requirements to the joint venture.
XFuel demo plant in Mallorca, Spain. XFuel secures EUR 4.1m Catalonia grant for waste-derived marine fuel plant  

Spanish start-up wins funding to build a modular facility converting waste oils into low-carbon marine gas oil.
Liquefied biogas facility at Port of Gothenburg render. Construction begins on liquefied biogas facility at Port of Gothenburg  

Nordion Energi's new plant aims to open up Swedish biogas supply to shipping and other sectors beyond the gas grid.

↑  Back to Top


 Recommended