Decarbonizing river and maritime transport with bioCNG : ADEME study released
What percentage of global greenhouse gas emissions come from shipping ? 3 %¹. However, these emissions are projected to reach 17 % by 2050 if no action is taken. The stakes are high, as the shipping sector already accounts for 16 % of freight emissions and 70 % of ton-kilometers transported².
On July 10, 2024, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), under the auspices of the UN, adopted a strategy to decarbonize maritime transport by 2050. One of the key pillars put forward is “the use of technologies, fuels, and energy sources with increasingly lower carbon content”1.
Bio-NNG : A Decarbonization Solution
Among the available carbon-free energy sources, bioCNG, or biomethane fuel, is considered one of the solutions. A renewable version of natural gas, it is derived from biomethane, which is a biogas produced in France through the fermentation of organic waste of agricultural, industrial, or household origin².
In a study commissioned by ADEME and GRDF, in partnership with Voies Navigables de France, the Elcimaï Consulting team and the firm Ekinos worked on the “potential of bioCNG in river and coastal maritime navigation.”
After a year of work, the study has been published and highlights the potential of bioCNG to reduce GHG emissions by 80 to 85 % compared to the commonly used fuel, NGD (Non-Road Diesel).
Strategies exist to develop the sector
While offering clear environmental benefits, this solution still faces technical and financial challenges : engine conversion, infrastructure, and refueling logistics…
There is a wide range of actions needed to address the challenges and meet the needs of industry stakeholders and investors, such as :
- Establishing a clear regulatory framework
- Raising awareness among stakeholders about the bioCNG solution
- Setting up demonstration projects
- Sharing refueling stations for various riverine uses (particularly around industrial sites) as well as for land-based mobility
- Offering financial and technical support to shipowners and engine manufacturers
- Stabilize and ensure the predictability of bioCNG prices
BioGNC could then power between 12 % and 40 % of river and coastal fleets, with strong potential for :
- Fleets with short voyage times (less than three days)
- Medium- to large-sized vessels that allow for better storage of bioCNG.
To learn more
Visit the ADEME Library to view the study : https://librairie.ademe.fr/7631-potentiel-du-biognc-dans-la-navigation-fluviale-et-maritime-cotiere.html
Sources :
- Actu Environnement, “Global Maritime Transport Sets Milestones for Decarbonization,” July 2024.
- Le Monde, “COP27 : Maritime freight is one of the largest emitters of CO2, and it is slow to change course,” November 2022
- Voies Navigables de France, BioGNC Presentation, November 2023.