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Not every waste is suitable to make biofuels . photo : BUREAU VERITAS
Andreas Ullrich , Global Market Leader , Passenger Ships & Ferries , at Bureau Veritas adds that government incentives can provide some needed boost to improve the situation , but the required biomass volumes are , indeed , challenging .
“ Not every waste is suitable to make biofuels . In addition , there are costs involved , too : you can never forget about the price tag ,” Ullrich says , adding that cost structures also guide development efforts .
GLOBAL STANDARD LACKING
Andreas Ullrich , Global Market Leader , Passenger Ships & Ferries , at Bureau Veritas .
Taking a closer look at biofuel production pathways , there are more challenges there , starting with securing sustainably produced biomass . As it stands , there is currently no global standard to verify endto-end green production pathways for biofuels .
Also , you need to allocate limited resources ethically , meaning that the land used for the production of biomass ( or the biomass itself ) may be needed to meet some other societal needs .
However , the regulatory situation for biofuels is gradually improving . The International Maritime Organization ( IMO ) is presently developing guidelines for the life cycle GHG analysis of marine fuels , which is expected to be the cornerstone when considering the emissions reduction potential of marine biofuels .
And while specific biofuel regulations may still be in the early stages , ship operators are already adapting their fleets to comply with IMO emissions regulations – and biofuels may be part of the solution photo : PIXABAY to reducing emissions and meeting compliance requirements .
Biofuels also appear to be in line with NOx emission limits . The challenge , however , comes in proving compliance . This may require onboard emission testing or engine and fuel-specific NOx emissions validation testing . However , the IMO regula-
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