Since ships today are equipped with heating capabilities to inject fuels with viscosity as high as 700 cSt into the engines at the recommended viscosity ( 10 – 18 cSt , depending on type or make ), means this might not be an issue at all .
VOLUME BUSINESS
But then there is the question of availability . At current production rates , biofuels are unlikely to be able to meet a large proportion of global maritime demand . In addition , competition with other sectors ( such as land-based transportation and aviation ) may add to availability woes .
“ Availability is the big challenge , but there is lots of R & D under way to solve this issue ,” Boulland says . Still , there are estimates that biofuels could eventually power 30 % of the global fleet .
THREE GENERATIONS OF BIOFUELS
• First generation ( also known as conventional biofuels ) are produced from agricultural crops , vegetable oil or food waste . Fatty-acid methyl ester ( FAME ) and hydrotreated vegetable oil ( HVO ) are the main types used in the shipping industry .
• Second generation ( AKA advanced biofuels ) are made of non-food biomass feedstocks like lignocellulosic biomass – residual feedstocks from forestry or crops . Their environmental impact is expected to be lower than the first generation .
• Third generation , a future generation produced from algae and microbes , will need further development before it is fit for wider uptake .
DIFFERENT TYPES OF BIOFUELS
Biofuels can be broadly categorized into three generations , some of which are ready for use in shipping , and others still maturing .
First generation
First generation or conventional biofuels are generated using agricultural crops , vegetable oil or food waste . These are the most commonly used biofuels worldwide .
Second generation
Second generation , or advanced biofuels , are produced from non-food biomass feedstocks like residual feedstocks from forestry or crops . They could have fewer negative environmental impacts relating to land use and food production .
Third generation
Third generation biofuels are a future generation of biofuels currently needing further development , produced from algae and microbes . seatec 2 / 2023 11