Japan's 100% Biofuel Supply Trial Starts

Using Neste Renewable Diesel provided by Itochu Enex Co. Ltd.in tugboats run by Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha, Nippon Yusen Kabushiki Kaisha (NYK) and NYK Group Company Shin-Nippon Kaiyosha Corporation have launched a test voyage. This is the first instance in Japan when a ship has been powered entirely by biodiesel.

The production of Neste Renewable Diesel, a 100 percent renewable fuel, uses livestock and used cooking oil that would otherwise be discarded by the food sector.

“Neste RD is a 100% renewable fuel product that is manufactured from waste cooking oil and animal oil that would not be used by the food industry. It can reduce GHG emissions on a life cycle assessment* basis by about 90% compared to petroleum-derived diesel fuel and can be used as a so-called “drop-in fuel,” just like gasoline or diesel oil, without modifying the existing infrastructure.

As a next-generation renewable fuel, Neste RD can greatly contribute to the reduction of GHG emissions by minimizing the introduction cost related to decarbonization measures, and its use in the shipping industry is expected to further expand in the future,” stated in NYK’s website.

In order to achieve a society free of carbon emissions, NYK Group will encourage the use of environmentally friendly fuels like biofuels.

Biofuels are produced from regenerative biological and organic materials. Biofuel combustion produces almost no carbon dioxide emissions. Biofuels have drawn interest as a contemporary heavy oil alternative due to the growing demand for reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from ships by shipping globally.