GAC Ireland and Green Biofuels Limited UK (GBF) have celebrated the debut lifting of biofuels from Ireland’s first clean fuels terminal.

The company has been appointed to operate and maintain GBF’s Cork Terminal from March 2023. The first 39,000-litre lifting of Gd⁺ fuel, which is made from renewable feedstocks and dramatically reduces harmful emissions by up to 90%, was completed in April under the eagle eye of Kenneth Long, GAC Ireland’s Cork Terminal Manager. It was heading for Mullingar in central Ireland where it will be used for several applications.

Previously, GBF leased tanks in UK through third parties. The beginning of operations at their own facility is a major milestone for them – and they have selected GAC as their partner to provide the manning and oversee day-to-day terminal activities.

Under the agreement, GAC provides terminal management services at the site, including providing terminal operators, loading masters and jetty operators who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the terminal, discharging fuel from vessels and overseeing the loading of fuel onto trucks for delivery.

Environmental ethos
Alex Azadegan, GBF’s Operations Manager, says: “We awarded GAC the management of the terminal due to the experience and expertise of their people and their superb safety, environmental and reliability ethos. We believe these are the principal ingredients required to successfully deliver a visionary, new facility.”

In 2021, Ireland imported over 8 million litres of Gd+ HVO from the UK, and GBF is seeing significant growth to this figure as industries turn to greener alternatives to fossil fuel. Ireland has committed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 51% by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050. GBF is in the business of introducing low-carbon, drop-in replacement fuels to the UK and Irish markets, and is powering the BBC’s coverage of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

Kenneth Long says: “I am personally very proud to be part of this journey in making renewable fuel accessible here in Ireland on a large scale.”

Pledge
GAC’s support for the biofuels sector chimes with the Group’s pledge to work for a more sustainable future.

Nicholas Browne, Managing Director of GAC UK & Ireland, says: “Together with GAC Bunker Fuels, we are committed to facilitating the growth of biofuels as an alternative fuel of the future throughout the UK and Ireland. It is fantastic to support GBF and to work with the Port of Cork on this project.”

The Cork Terminal currently only handles Gd⁺ but options to store other clean fuels there are being explored. The current capacity of 38 million is set to increase to 53 million with further development. The beginning of operations marks the beginning of a long, successful partnership in the journey towards net zero.