The Potential of Liquid Biofuels in Reducing Ship Emissions

Guided by the International Maritime Organization's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction goals, the shipping industry is investigating liquid biofuels to replace conventional shipping fuels. The authors of this White Paper screen liquid biofuels based on qualitative criteria, assessing the potential GHG and air pollution reductions compared with distillate bunker fuel, and estimating the compatibility of these fuels with existing marine engines. The authors also consider obstacles to the use of biofuels, such as availability of feedstocks, costs, and competition with other transportation sectors. The results show that feedstock is the important factor in determining a fuel’s GHG reductions, five liquid biofuels are identified that could reduce shipping GHG emissions relative to distillate fuels: 1) fatty acid methyl ester biodiesel derived from waste fats, oils, and greases (FOGs); 2) hydro-treated renewable diesel derived from waste FOGs; 3) Fischer-Tropsch diesel derived from lignocellulosic biomass; 4) dimethyl ether generated by gasification of lignocellulosic feedstocks followed by catalytic synthesis; and 5) methanol produced by gasification of lignocellulosic feedstocks followed by catalytic synthesis. All of these biofuels are expected to reduce air pollution emissions, regardless of the feedstock they are derived from. The results suggest several policy measures. First, policymakers should adopt rigorous life-cycle assessment methods to ensure the adoption of only those fuels that offer strong life-cycle GHG benefits. Secondly, because pathways with the highest potential to deliver deep GHG reductions are also the most technologically complex and the most costly, policymakers should focus on the obstacles to such fuels. Thirdly, because of engine compatibility limitations, policymakers should recognize that many biofuels must be blended with conventional fuels and that they can reduce life-cycle emissions only according to their blending ratio.

• Record URL:
  https://theicct.org/sites/default/files/publications/Marine-biofuels-sept2020.pdf
• 
• Summary URL:
  https://theicct.org/publications/marine-biofuels-sept2020
• Corporate Authors:

  International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT)

  1500 K Street NW, Suite 650
  Washington, DC  United States  20005
• Authors:
  • Zhou, Yuanrong
  • Pavlenko, Nikita
  • Rutherford, Dan
  • Osipova, Liudmila
  • Comer, Bryan
• Publication Date: 2020-9

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: White Paper
• Features: Appendices; Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 31p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Alternate fuels; Biomass fuels; Exhaust gases; Feeding stuffs; Greenhouse gases; Life cycle analysis; Liquid fuels; Ships
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Marine Transportation;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01757967
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 2020-21
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 17 2020 2:36PM