Tests are getting underway to accredit a new waste-derived
marine fuel made from coal that reportedly can lower greenhouse gas emissions
and reduce fuel costs. Product tanker operator Hafnia and UK-based energy
technology company Arq have agreed to work together on the tests of the blend
component for marine fuels to optimize blends that meet environmental standards
and maximize cost efficiencies.
Arq has developed a patented technology that transforms coal
waste into a micro-fine hydrocarbon powder (Arq Fuel), which has a range of
industrial uses, including blending into oil products to create stable
dispersions. For the shipping industry, the powder derived from the coal is
used as a low-sulfur blending component to produce IMO 2020 compliant marine
fuels.
Under the partnership agreement, Hafnia will conduct trials
using Arq Fuel on some of its vessels. The trials are scheduled to begin in
mid-2021 after the fuel secures the required accreditations. The goal is to
confirm the fuel’s compatibility for Hafnia’s tankers and to determine the
optimal blends for marine applications.
The agreement between Hafnia and Arq follows a series of
successful tests that according to Arq demonstrated the fuel’s performance as a
marine fuel component that can be used without any changes to the existing
supply chain and ship engines. Arq reports that third-party research confirmed
the fuel’s strong environmental credentials. Without compromising on combustion
performance, the fuel mixture produces a lower level of sulfur dioxide (SO2)
and nitrogen oxides (NOx), than Residual Fuel Oil (RFO).
The production process of the coal-derived product also has
been calculated to be over 40 percent more environmentally beneficial than
producing an equivalent amount of RFO. In addition, the process cleans up coal
waste, removing legacy environmental liabilities, and remediate land for more
productive purposes.
Commercial quantities of Arq Fuel will be made available in
the US during the second half of 2021, at Vitol’s tankage in St Rose, New
Orleans. Arq reports that it is also advancing plans to establish further
processing plants and blending facilities at key hubs in the US, Europe, and
Asia.