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  • Biofuels as a ship fuel

Although there is no internationally agreed definition of biofuels, it is generally referred to as a fuel which can replace traditional fossil fuels, made from biomass as a raw material, and has similar properties to petroleum products. It is a low-carbon fuel because its carbon content is relatively low compared to traditional fossil fuels, and it is classified as a carbon-neutral fuel because it uses biomass that has absorbed carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Because of this carbon neutrality, the use of biofuels is expanding in all industry sectors. While it has the advantage of being easier to store and use than other alternative fuels from the point of view of utilization, it should be noted that storage conditions and periods may differ depending on the type of biofuel. Biofuels are receiving attention as a "drop-in" fuel that can be used immediately without the need for significant modification or alteration of internal combustion engines used as main propulsion or electric power generation on ships. If a sufficient supply is available, they can also be used as pilot fuels for dual-fuel engines, ensuring complete carbon neutrality in ships.

 

  • Types of Biofuels

Biofuels can be produced from various materials and manufacturing methods, mainly biomass sources. The representative biofuels are as follows:

 

Straight Vegetable Oil(SVO)

Fuel extracted from various biomasses such as palm, soybean, and rapeseed

Fatty Acid Methyl Ester(FAME)

Fuel made from vegetable oil, animal fat, or waste cooking oil through transesterification

Hydrotreated Renewable Diesel(e.g., HVO)

Renewable fuel produced by adding hydrogen to non-edible raw materials such as waste cooking oil and byproducts of palm oil

Fischer-Tropsch(FT) Diesel (or BTL : Biomass to Liquid)

Natural gas, coal, and biomass can be used as raw materials. For BTL fuels using biomass as raw material, the fuel is produced through gasification, refining, and F-T synthesis processes.

    

Biofuels can be classified according to the raw materials used. First-generation biofuels can use crops for food and animal feed, which can have a negative impact on food production and indirect land-use changes (ILUC) such as assigning pasture or croplands for biofuel production can increase greenhouse gas emissions. Accordingly, it is expected that 2nd generation or higher generation biofuels produced from raw materials with relatively low environmental impact will be used as sustainable fuels.

 

1st generation

Manufactured from food crops such as corn, palm oil, and soybean oil

2nd generation

Manufactured mainly using waste biomasses such as waste cooking oil, animal fat, and agricultural waste

3rd generation

Manufactured using non-food raw materials such as microalgae

 

  • Price and bunkering

The price of biofuels can vary depending on the raw materials and manufacturing process, and it is known that biofuels with higher generations have a higher price range compared to traditional fossil fuels. In addition, the availability of biofuels as a fuel may vary depending on the limitations of available raw materials and the demand for biomass in other industrial sectors (power generation industry, land and air transport, etc.). Biofuels can be produced worldwide, but infrastructure for bunkering biofuels may be limited. However, with the increasing demand and use of biofuels for sustainable fuel from a life cycle perspective due to strengthened GHG regulations, the number of ports capable of bunkering is expected to increase. In addition, for existing "drop-in" biofuels that can replace traditional fossil fuels without requiring significant investment, existing bunkering infrastructure can be used.

Biofuels-Considerations for Ship Application
Biofuels-Considerations for Ship Application
IMO implemented the 0.5% sulfur content regulation for ship fuel oil on January 1 of this year, and prior to that, in 2018, it adopted a draft initial strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from ships. As such, IMO is expected to gradually strengthen air quality regulations, and international shipping will need to continue to find solutions to satisfy them. Biofuels are being considered as one way to do this. Biofuel has the advantages of 1) being applicable to existing ships without engine modification, 2) having no or very low sulfur (S) content, and 3) having a significant greenhouse gas reduction effect. Accordingly, please take note of the fact that we are distributing a technical document summarizing the matters to be considered first when using biofuel on ships.
2020.02.13
MacNet Strategy Seminar II_Navigating biofuel utilization in shipping sector_Global regulations and Technological challenges
MacNet Strategy Seminar II_Navigating biofuel utilization in shipping sector_Global regulations and Technological challenges
This material is part of the presentation material from MacNet (Maritime Cluster Networking in Korea)'s Strategy Seminar II (Bio fuel and ammonia, how to overcome uncertainty as alternative fuel for ships?). This material includes information on the status of GHG regulations, characteristics of biofuel as marine fuel and considerations when applying biofuel to ships. Strategy Seminar II materials other than this presentation can be found on the MacNet website (http://www.macnetkorea.com/).
2023.11.08
Biofuel Series_Part Ⅰ Biofuels in the Pathway to Net-Zero: Technical Challenges and Operational Perspectives
Biofuel Series_Part Ⅰ Biofuels in the Pathway to Net-Zero: Technical Challenges and Operational Perspectives
A New Pillar in Shipping Decarbonization: Biofuels Biofuels are fuels derived from biomass?such as vegetable oils, agricultural residues, and waste-based materials?through processing and refining. In the maritime sector, they are attracting increasing attention as alternative fuels that share physical and chemical properties with conventional fossil fuels while contributing to the achievement of Net-Zero targets. Currently, the main types of biofuels under consideration include Fatty Acid Methyl Ester (FAME), Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO), bio-methanol, bio-LNG (Liquefied Bio-Gas), ethanol, Straight Vegetable Oil (SVO), Fischer?Tropsch diesel (F-T diesel), upgraded pyrolysis oil, and Dimethyl Ether (DME). Among these, FAME and HVO stand out as the most promising options for international shipping, as they can be used as drop-in fuels without requiring major modifications to existing ship fuel systems.
2025.11.26
Interview with Biofuel Expert
Interview with Biofuel Expert
Biofuels are being prioritized, especially for addressing GHG regulations for existing ships, due to their advantage of effectively reducing GHG emissions by blending a certain amount with traditional fossil fuels without modifying the engine or fuel supply system. Additionally, the recent surge in biofuel production has stabilized prices, making them even more preferable. In this issue, we feature an interview with Dae-Sik Seo, the Senior Researcher of HMM, who has been preparing for the use of biofuels for several years. Currently, HMM is using biofuels on container ships operating on European routes, playing a role as a first mover by reducing the Scope 3 emissions of shippers through their Green Sailing Service. The interview covers various aspects such as the purpose of using biofuels, fuel supply, demonstration, and technical solutions.
2024.07.26
Biofuel as Marine Fuel
Biofuel as Marine Fuel
Biofuels are produced using raw materials such as biomass and can be blended or substituted with conventional fuels for use without any modifications to existing internal combustion engines and infrastructure. In other words, biofuels serve as ‘drop-in’ fuels that can be directly used in engine fuel systems without modification, prompting numerous shipping companies to conduct sea trials through the blending or substitution of biofuels. To implement biofuels, considerations must be made regarding quality, safety, cost-effectiveness, and environmental impacts.
2024.05.01
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