A two-year partnership between MAN Energy Solutions, Elbdeich Reederei, LIQUIND Marine, Wessels Marine, Kiwi, and Unifeeder has led to bunkering ElbBlue with a 50/50 mix of synthetic (SNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
The SNG was produced at Kiwi's Power-to-Gas facility in Werlte using 100% renewable energy.
According to the parties, the blend (20t of SNG, 20t of LNG) will decrease the vessel's carbon footprint by 56t on its coming voyage to St. Petersburg versus sailing on conventional LNG only.
"A successful trial voyage will complement our environmental initiatives across Europe, such as our investment in more efficient rail and barge inland services, as well as our ongoing sustainability ambitions at our terminals across Europe. And with the launch of the Actual Emission Tracker by Unifeeder [a digital tool that allows calculating greenhouse gas emissions at the specific TEU level], we are seeking to provide our customers with the tools and options that help them to measure output and make lower carbon supply chain choice," Jesper Kristensen, Unifeeder's CEO and DP World Marine Services' COO, commented.
Stefan Eefting, Senior VP and Head of MAN PrimeServ, Augsburg, added, "This is a crucial step on the road to decarbonizing shipping. In reducing or even eliminating future emissions generated by the global supply chain, synthetic fuels and engine retrofits have a crucial role to play. While a retrofit instantly reduces a ship's emission levels, synthetic fuels like SNG can enable it to run 100% climate-neutrally. Today, we are demonstrating that any LNG-retrofitted ship can also run on fuels generated by power-to-X technology, and even as a mix of fuels depending on availability."
Back in 2017, the then-named Wes Amelie received a dual-fuel gas-run engine from MAN Energy Solutions.
Timm Niebergall, Unifeeder's Shortsea Director, summed up by saying, "Our customers in Europe and beyond are expecting innovative solutions for improving our, and thereby also their, carbon footprint."
Photo: MAN Energy Solutions