The Nordic energy company Gasum has bunkered liquefied biogas (LBG) for the first time to an offshore supply vessel in Norway. The bunkering from truck to ship was performed to Lundin Energy Norway’s supply vessel Island Crusader at the Risavika harbour, close to Stavanger. Its vessel Island Crusader is a battery hybrid running on liquefied gas and using electricity, the latter for example in harbours.

Lundin Energy Norway is one of the world’s leading sustainable oil and gas companies. The company aims to reach carbon neutrality across its operations by 2023. Among others they aim at battery hybridization of all supply and stand-by vessels on fixed contracts as part of its decarbonisation strategy.

Biogas enables maritime sector to clearly reduce its emissions

LBG is at the moment the cleanest maritime fuel available. It can reduce fuel’s emissions during it’s lifetime cycle up to 90 %. It is also interchangeable with liquefied natural gas (LNG) that is nowadays used more frequently as a fuel in maritime operations. Using LNG reduces the greenhouse gas emissions with up to 21% compared to conventional fuel.

“We are very happy to support Lundin Energy Norway on their journey towards carbon neutral operations. Biogas is a way to significantly reduce maritime sector’s emissions and it is available already today which makes it a viable option for companies”, says Gunnar Helmen, Gasum.

Biogas is produced from organic waste and contributes to the circular economy. Gasum own and operate a number of biogas plants throughout the Nordics, and aim for increased biogas production.

The Norwegian oil and gas business is facing stricter emission targets going forward. Biogas as offshore vessel fuel is an efficient solution to meet these targets. One reason being that a large number of these vessels are already running on liquefied natural gas (LNG).

“Together with supporting politics we can increase the Norwegian biogas production significantly and contribute in making waste to energy pushing for the green shift, and we can do it today”, Helmen concludes.

Gasum’s goal is to reach cumulative carbon emission reductions of million tons by increasing its biogas production. By 2025 the energy company intends to make 4 TWh of biogas available on the market from the company’s own production and that of its certified European partners.

Source: Gasum