BHP and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation have blended biofuels from two distinct feedstocks—used cooking oil and waste animal fats —and introduced the lower-emissions marine fuel into a BHP-chartered bulk carrier as part of a pilot project.

The BHP and GCMD pilot will assess how biofuels from multiple feedstocks can be blended, handled, and introduced under real-world operating conditions using existing used cooking oil bunkering infrastructure.

At the same time, insights from this pilot will help identify solutions to challenges related to fuel quality, handling, traceability, and onboard vessel performance.

Biofuels for global shipping today rely heavily on used cooking oil – a feedstock whose availability is approaching its projected limits. Biofuel from waste animal fats presents a promising option to expand the supply of lower-emissions marine fuels.

The outcomes of the pilot are expected to shed light on the practical steps to integrate biofuel blends from different feedstocks into existing supply chains. The diversity of biofuels will provide shipowners and operators with greater flexibility to optimise fuel procurement based on cost, availability, and lifecycle emissions performance.

Biofuels derived from different feedstocks can exhibit varying properties that may impact operations, including potential corrosion from oxidation, fuel system clogging caused by wax formation, which this pilot aims to assess.

The pilot will trace and verify the biofuel blend’s integrity aimed at bolstering confidence in emissions reductions reporting. The pilot will also provide insights into how robust tracing can support future marine fuel supply chains where biofuels from multiple feedstocks with varying lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions footprints are blended together.

The bio-blend in the BHP and GCMD pilot is being used on a BHP-chartered bulk carrier Berge Lyngor, owned and operated by Berge Bulk, transporting BHP iron ore from Western Australia to China. When run on bio-blend, the vessel has the potential to reduce well-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions by approximately 79 per cent per voyage compared to sailing on very low sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO).

The vessel bunkered in Singapore in early May with a B100 bio-blend comprising 50 per cent tallow-derived biodiesel, sourced and supplied by HAMR Energy, and 50 per cent used cooking oil (UCOME) supplied by Mitsui & Co Energy Trading Singapore (METS).

Mitsui also blended the fuel and Dan-Bunkering coordinated and executed the bunkering operation, which was performed by Global Energy’s barge MT Maple.

This project is co-funded by the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore under the Maritime Innovation and Technology Fund (MINT).

BHP Vice President Maritime & Supply Chain Excellence Emma Roberts said, “This initiative reflects the shared commitment of BHP and GCMD in the maritime value chain to unlock scalable, credible lower-emissions fuel pathways, as well as the importance of mobilizing the industry to deliver decarbonization solutions.

“As the world’s largest bulk charterer, we want to continue to test and trial alternative fuels that will help increase supply and send industry demand signals for further investment.

“At a time when fuel security is vitally important to global trade, building opportunities for future biofuels is critical. Along with LNG and ammonia, biodiesel has a big role to play in the future supply of sustainable marine fuels.”

GCMD CEO Prof Lynn Loo said, “Building on the experience and insights from our earlier biofuel pilots, GCMD has developed a robust framework to safeguard the integrity of biofuel use across quantity, quality and life cycle GHG emissions abatement. This framework provides a strong foundation to evaluate how a broader range of biofuels from alternative feedstocks, including animal tallow can be credibly integrated into existing and new marine fuel supply chains.”

HAMR Energy Co-founder David Stribley said, “This project shows the huge potential of biofuels to power fleets, reduce emissions and strengthen fuel security by diversifying supplies.

“At HAMR Energy, we are focused on working with partners to unlock these opportunities. We are seeing increasing interest from users and a growing industry of fuel producers ready to meet this demand. The success of this trial is an important step in embedding biofuels from various feedstock sources in the shipping fuel mix.”

Berge Bulk’s Founder & CEO James Marshall, “Berge Bulk has been gaining experience using biofuel (B30, B50, and B100) on voyages since 2021. Over the past year alone, our biofuel voyages avoided more than 13,000 metric tons of carbon emissions. It’s an important element of our decarbonization plan alongside efficiency, technology, and carbon capture.”

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BHP, GCMD trial multi-feedstock B100 blend in an existing supply chain

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