Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) group company Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha have started a trial using Neste Renewable Diesel (hereinafter, NesteRD) supplied by Itochu Enex in tugboats operated by Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha.
NYK believes this to be the first case in Japan of a 100% concentration of biodiesel being used in a ship. The Biofuel is made from renewable biological organic resources (biomass). Burning biofuels results in virtually zero CO2 emissions. With increasing demand for reductions in GHG emitted from ships by oceangoing shipping around the world, biofuels have attracted attention as a currently available alternative to heavy oil.
The biofuel being used in this trial is Neste RD, which is being imported to Japan through a contract that Itochu Corporation has signed with the Neste OYJ Group, one of the world’s largest renewable fuel manufacturers. Neste RD is a 100% renewable fuel product that is manufactured from waste cooking oil and animal oil that would not be used by the food industry. It can reduce GHG emissions on a life cycle assessment basis by about 90% compared to petroleum-derived diesel fuel and can be used as a so-called ‘drop-in fuel’, without modifying the existing infrastructure. As a next-generation renewable fuel, NesteRD can contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions by minimising the introduction cost related to decarbonisation measures, and its use in the shipping industry is expected to further expand in the future.
NYK Group will promote the use of environment-friendly fuels such as biofuels in its contribution to the realisation of a carbon-free society.
