Image: Gasum

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Gasum has begun trial deliveries of liquefied biogas (LBG) to the Finnish Border Guard in a move designed to test logistics and practicalities on board as well as demonstrate biogas as a fossil-free and 100 percent renewable energy source in maritime transport.

On April 1, Gasum delivered domestically produced biogas from its biogas plant in Turku to Helsinki, where the Finnish Border Guard's LNG-powered offshore patrol vessel, Turva, was refuelled with LBG.

The next delivery, also to the Finnish Border Guard, is due to take place in the coming weeks with LBG imported from its liquefaction facility in Risavika, Norway, to Helsinki via Gasum's LNG terminal in Pori.

Commenting on the news, Gasum's Jacob Granqvist, Vice President Maritime, noted: "Gasum has supported the Finnish Border Guard's LNG-fuelled offshore patrol vessel Turva since the beginning of her operations, and now we are very happy to continue this journey with LBG deliveries. Using biogas alongside with LNG in marine transport is a new step forward in decarbonizing the shipping industry and we are looking forward to completing more successful trials with biogas in the near future."

Commander Marko Aheristo, Head of the Ship Technical Unit at the Finnish Border Guard, remarked: "We are happy to be forerunners in environmentally friendly shipping practices. Through these test deliveries we will expect to gain more experience on using biogas and to support further our efforts to reach the carbon neutrality goals Finland has set for 2035."

According to the current government program, Finland will be carbon neutral by 2035, which means significant emission cuts will be required in the transport sector in order to meet this target.

Gasum has been a pioneer in the supply of LBG to vessels. As previously reported, the Finnish firm performed its maiden LBG delivery to Furetank Rederi's tanker, the Fure Vinga, in Gothenburg back in June 2018.

And in December 2020, the company carried out what it claims to be the first ship-to-ship bunker delivery of a blend of LNG and LBG to a cargo vessel.

As both LNG and LBG mainly consist of methane gas, both gases are interchangeable and can be used in deliveries to the same vessels.

This means that the existing LNG supply infrastructure can be used for the delivery of LBG without any modifications. Therefore, the same trucks, ships, tanks and marine filling stations can be used for both products.