Earlier this year, Bow Olympus completed a transatlantic voyage powered entirely by 100% biofuel, achieving an 85% reduction in well-to-wake greenhouse gas emissions. The voyage followed the installation of four wind-assist propulsion sails on board, further improving the vessel’s energy efficiency.
“For shipping to decarbonize, we cannot afford to overcomplicate the matter. We need the most cost-effective and scalable solutions, and sustainable biofuels may prove to be exactly that,” says VP Technology Erik Hjortland. “We see sustainable and certified biofuels as an under-communicated but highly pragmatic pathway towards net-zero shipping.”
Reliable and scalable
The Bow Olympus crossing was performed using ISCC-certified, waste-based biofuel compliant with the EU Renewable Energy Directive. The operation required no additional investments, no added risk for the crew, and no new training—"it was only one phone call away.”
While critics have long argued that biofuels cannot scale, recent research offers a different view. DNV projects the availability of 40 to 100 exajoules (EJ) of sustainable, economically viable biomass by 2050, while shipping would require about 24 EJ for full decarbonization.
Cost and sourcing
This year, Odfjell has primarily used B24 and B30 blends, which come at a cost premium of 40% to 50% compared with conventional fuels. Pure B100 fuels are roughly double the price. However, with the implementation of IMO’s greenhouse gas intensity standards, biofuel prices are expected to become a comparatively cheaper alternative.
Most of Odfjell’s bunkering has taken place in the Amsterdam–Rotterdam–Antwerp region, Singapore, and Fujairah, driven by optimization under FuelEU Maritime.
Expanding use
“So far this year, we have bunkered around 10,000 tonnes of sustainable biofuels, primarily in response to requirements under the FuelEU Maritime regulation,” Hjortland shares. “We expect to sustain this volume until 2028, after which we anticipate a significant increase linked to the adoption of the International Maritime Organization’s Global Fuel Intensity (GFI) pricing system—provided they are confirmed this month.”
Odfjell anticipates expanding biofuel procurement to additional ports, including Algeciras, Gibraltar, and Brazil, as supply networks mature.
Proven in operation
The company’s experience operating on 100% biofuel has been positive. According to Hjortland, “Our voyages on B100 have been positive. The engines have performed reliably, with no technical issues reported.”
He adds that ongoing studies by the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation suggest that “many of the expected negative impacts of biofuels may in fact have been overstated,” noting that Odfjell vessels have observed “less sludge formation when running on biofuels than with VLSFO.”
“We must not prematurely rule out sustainable biofuels,” Hjortland concludes. “They deserve a place in the decarbonization equation—alongside other options—as part of an ‘all options on the table’ approach.”
