Queensland welcomes home successful biofuel shipping trial
Queensland welcomes home successful biofuel shipping trial
Queensland is putting a cleaner maritime future in the fast (shipping) lane!
A massive container ship has docked at the Port of Brisbane, completing a 42-day trial voyage between South East Asia and Australia, powered by a locally produced biodiesel fuel, reducing emissions and improving marine and air quality.
With maritime transport responsible for around 2.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, this trial is a significant step towards allowing the international shipping industry to make immediate and significant reductions to their environmental impact. The Queensland Government, through its Biofutures 10-Year Roadmap and Action Plan, played a key role in partnering with international shipping and logistics operator ANL to develop this ground-breaking trial, and setting Queensland on the path to becoming a leading destination for clean investment.
The trial was conducted on ANL’s AAX1 service, operating between South East Asia and Australia, calling into eight separate ports, using a vessel 328 metres in length - that's longer than Australia’s tallest building (The Gold Coast’s Q1) is tall, four times the size of The Gabba from centre to goal line, and 2.4 times the length of Suncorp Stadium.
This biofuel trial has been a collaborative effort across the supply chain, with ANL (operation), Woolworths Group (sponsorship), the Port of Brisbane (technical support), bp Marine (fuel supply and mixing) and local suppliers EcoTech Biodiesel (biodiesel production) all working together to recognise the importance of decarbonising international shipping.
As a low cost, biodegradable and renewable energy source, biofuels have proven themselves to be an immediate and low emission alternative to fossil fuels. For the trial, the container ship was powered by 500 metric tonnes of biofuel. The fuel was made up of bp Marine’s Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil blended with a biodiesel produced by Brisbane-based company EcoTech Biodiesel from recycled cooking oils, fats and grease. .
Preliminary data shows the voyage could reduce emissions by approximately 17% as well as reducing nitrous oxides and sulphur oxides (air and marine pollutants). A full analysis of the trial’s success will be completed mid-year.
This trial will not only lead to a cleaner future for our oceans, but also has the potential to deliver an economic boon for Queensland. As global demand for cleaner fuels grows, Queensland is seizing the opportunity to secure more jobs in emerging industries and partnering with key sectors like maritime to improve fuel security and help the nation achieve energy independence.
Biofuels also mean a big win for consumers. As the only major container shipping line headquartered in Australia, ANL is a vital link in the supply chain ensuring a range of products reach shop shelves. Cleaner shipping fuels mean many of your everyday purchases (including foodstuffs, apparel, paper and rubber products, textiles and furniture) will have a reduced carbon footprint.
Likewise, Queensland’s export industry will become more sustainable, with top commodities such as cotton, legumes, minerals, meat, cereal, fruit and transportation goods boosting our economy while helping the planet.
Decarbonising shipping supply chains not only contributes to Queensland’s target of zero net emissions by 2050, it also has the potential to put Queensland on the map as a leading biofuel refuelling station in the western Pacific.
This also aligns with the aims of the project participants:
- ANL in conjunction with its parent company CMA CGM has set a corporate goal of achieving zero net carbon by 2050.
- Woolworths Group has a nation-wide sustainability plan which includes reaching net positive emissions by 2050.
- bp has set its ambition to be a net zero emissions company by 2050 or sooner.
- Port of Brisbane has a target to achieve zero net emissions by 2030.
The trial also supports the Queensland Government’s commitment to the World Business Council for Sustainable Development’s below50 initiative, a global campaign committed to growing sustainable fuels, to which the Queensland Government is a signatory.
Here’s to many more vessels sailing into our ports, harbouring ambitions for governments, industries and organisations to work together for a cleaner and more prosperous future!
To learn more about biofuels, you can read our article What are biofuels? How we make and use biofuels in Queensland.
Last updated: 14 Jun 2023