According to ro-ro operator Wallenius Wilhelmsen, biofuels can help to make an immediate impact on shipping’s GHG emissions, although they do come at an increased cost and owners need to be sure that they can benefit from their extra investments in sustainability and compliance.
Verified biofuel insetting enables this, by creating transparency in a ‘book and claim system’ across the entire supply chain. Wallenius Wilhelmsen has worked with DNV to verify the GHG reductions it achieved by using 100% biofuel (B100) onboard its vessel Morning Post. Bunkering B100, derived entirely from sustainable sources, at Port of Antwerp-Bruges, the vessel consumed the biofuel over its scheduled voyage, resulting in a reduction of 90% CO2 equivalent on a well-to-wake basis. This statement is DNV’s first commercial verification of biofuel insetting with 100% biofuel (B100) and is considered a new chapter in shipping’s journey toward decarbonisation.
Jørgen Westrum Thorsen, Senior Manager Sustainability, Wallenius Wilhelmsen, said: “Our ambition is to lead the transformation of our industry towards a decarbonized future and the increased utilization of sustainable biofuel will play a part in getting us there and delivering on our net-zero 2040 commitment. Our customers are integral partners on this net zero journey so working closely with DNV to ensure that we can consistently deliver verified emission reductions to our customers is an important step.”
Morten A Lerø, MD DNV Maritime Advisory said: “Biofuel insetting is emerging as an important new solution for companies aiming to reduce their carbon footprint, alongside meeting the increasing strict national and international regulatory targets. But it also has the potential to create new business models, enhancing and expanding the market for green and sustainable services. In the absence of global standards, or a global accounting database for the approach, the industry needs trusted and independent assessments of these processes to ensure that emission reductions are fairly calculated and accurately tracked. For shipping companies, their customers need to trust that their sustainability drivers are backed up by rigorous standards and real, measurable outcomes. This is why we are so proud to work with Wallenius Wilhelmsen, to build this trust, as it continues to break new ground in greening shipping and contributing to the new carbon economy.”
The increasing use of drop-in biofuels, such as B100 and B30 are an important part of Wallenius Wilhelmsen’s multi factor pathway towards net zero.
Image: Certificate presentation, left to right – Guilherme Romar Borzacchiello, Environmental Engineer DNV; Benjamin Witt, Principal Environmental Compliance Director DNV; Joris Vernhaag, Senior Manager High and Heavy Breakbulk Germany Wallenius Wilhelmsen; Morten Lerø, MD Advisory DNV; Olaf Doerk, Head of Advisory Centre Hamburg DNV (source: Wallenius Wilhelmsen)
