Frequently Asked Questions
Anything missing that you would like to know about biofuels? Ask your question in the comment box below!
+ What is the definition of an 'alternative fuel' or 'biofuel'?
'Alternative fuels' are produced from sustainable wastes and residues feedstock, or from fully synthetic sources without fossil carbon as feedstock. Fully synthetic fuels from non-fossil sources are not yet commercially available, therefore the focus is currently on biofuels. In line with climate science, most NGOs have two main requirements for biofuels to be viewed as sustainable:
- Low indirect land use change impacts
- High % GHG savings in a lifecycle perspective
When using biofuel must ensure, that we only source biofuels which are considered sustainable due to the significant NGO criticism especially of biofuels from palm, soy and crops due to:
- Biofuels from palm and soy can have very high lifecycle emissions due to direct & indirect land use change leading to lifecycle emissions 2 3 times higher those of fossil fuels compared to direct emissions of fossil fuel, which is the typical benchmark in EU regulation.
- Biofuels from crops such as rapeseed, sunflower and corn also have high emissions due to indirect land use change, where feedstock displace food production from agricultural land.
In the EU, the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) states the rules, regulations and definitions of what a sustainable fuel means.
There is some overlap with hydrogen and hydrogen-related fuels such as ammonia and methanol. Though these can also be considered alternative fuels, they are considered a class on their own and have their own designation at Mr. Sustainability ([Hydrogen][2]).
+ Which alternative fuels for the maritime industry are currently available?
The following alternative fuels have been identified by Sustainable Ships and are currently commercially available on the market:
- GTL (with or without carbon credits)
- FAME
- HVO
- Bio-HFO
In reality, this list is of course much longer! If you like to add to this list, feel free to comment below or contact us.
+ How much do they cost?
Fuel prices for alternative fuels range from similar prices in the case of bio-HFO and FAME in the Rotterdam area, to several times the costs of regular fuel in the case of HVO. A cost overview for biofuels will follow soon!
+ Why are alternative fuels "more sustainable"?
Alternative fuels make use of 'short-cycle carbon', which do not impact global CO2 emission levels. Basically, what this means is the following. Biomass absorbs CO2 directly from the air. This biomass is then transformed into fuel, which could be done by various processes. The fuel is burned, releasing the carbon again in the form of CO2. This is then again absorbed by the biomass, making it an 'endless cycle' without adding to the total amount of CO2. More information can be found on Wikipedia.
+ How much fuel does the maritime industry consume?
The marine/offshore industry consumes 6.7% of all oil with almost 100.000 vessels in operation. Most of these vessels consume HFO, or Heavy Fuel Oil. Virtually all existing vessels can be equipped with drop-in biofuels that are in some places already as cheap as regular HFO. In the future, these biofuels can be replaced with synthetic.
+ Is there enough biomass available (for maritime industry)?
Yes. There is more than enough. Up to 20% of our energy needs could already be met with sustainably harvested biomass, in particular food and agricultural waste, as well as manure. Biomass could serve a crucial role in the energy transition by replacing gas and petroleum in (chemical) industry, aviation and maritime shipping.
The 'only' caveat is mis-use of biomass, for example the destruction of forest to create pallets for coal plants. This might help to reduce carbon emissions by making use only of short-cycle carbon, it also destroys biodiversity and impacts local communities. One should therefore always adhere to the 'food, feed, fiber first principle' and use biomass 'waste streams' such as in agriculture where available. More information can be found in this blog on biomass.
+ Which sector consumes the most amount of fuel?
The exact numbers are in constant flux, but the 2019 oil consumption reached a record high of around [100 million barrels][2] per day. These 100 million barrels take up almost 40% of our daily energy needs. Most of this energy flows to the transportation industry, where it is used in combustion engines of cars, airplanes and vessels. A smaller part is used for 'essential' products in our everyday lives, such as medicine and food-packaging, and is consumed for industrial purposes.
This is a simplification of the energy needs of the U.S. in 2017 and serves as an example to show the flow of energy and (fossil) fuels. For an elaboration on this, read this blog on biomass and energy consumption.
+ Are fossil fuels really essential?
Oil is essential, fossil is not. Big oil often points to the fact that ‘oil is essential to our everyday life’. That is absolutely true as oil products are used not just used for cars, planes and ships, but also medicine, plastic wrapping to keep our food preserved, toothbrushes, you name it. This part however is quite small (16%) compared to everything that is combusted (84%). Therefore electrification of the transport sector should solve most our issues with regards to oil dependency. Furthermore, while it is true that these products are essential, there is no need for the oil to be fossil. Everything that is made from fossil fuels can be made 100% renewable from plants or air. Waste from plants can be chemically enhanced to produce all the basic building blocks for the chemical industry in a 100% renewable, circular manner. CO2 and water can even be directly absorbed from air to create these chemicals.
