A consortium of companies is committed to developing the world’s first biomass-fueled ship, known as a bioship, along with the technology required to power it. This endeavor will contribute significantly to the promotion of sustainable transportation initiatives.
Japanese transportation companies NYK Line (NYK), NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers (NBP), and Tsuneishi Shipbuilding have joined forces with British renewable energy firm Drax Group (Drax) for this groundbreaking project. The recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the companies outlines their shared goal of bringing a bioship to fruition by the end of the decade.
The agreement will facilitate research into developing onboard biomass fuel technology to power bioships. Additionally, the four companies will explore innovative methods to reduce fuel costs and emissions related to shipping biomass by leveraging renewable technologies.
Biomass is playing a growing role in Japan’s transition from fossil fuel power generation to low-carbon, renewable electricity. The country’s demand for biomass pellets, mainly sourced from North America and made of sawmill and forestry residues, is on the rise.
Drax produces biomass pellets in the US South and Canada, and has a strong partnership with NBP for transporting its pellets to Japan.
Currently, these pellets are transported using smaller handysize bulkers, which have faced challenges in switching to lower emission fuels like ammonia due to their limited fuel tank size.
Under the MoU signed at the British Embassy in Tokyo, the companies will initiate research to develop new shipping technology: an onboard biomass fuel plant needed to power a bioship. The four companies are exploring the use of other renewable technologies to reduce emissions and fuel costs in shipping biomass.
The biomass fuel plant will utilize a gasifier to efficiently burn biomass at high temperatures, producing and capturing gases such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and methane. These gases will then be harnessed to drive a generator, providing both propulsion for the bioship and a portion of its internal power.
Implementing a biomass fuel plant could lead to a 22% decrease in well-to-wake carbon emissions for bioships compared to using fossil fuels. If successful, the companies will collaborate to explore the feasibility of constructing a bioship by the end of 2029.
“This initiative is part of NYK’s long-term target of net-zero emissions of greenhouse gas (GHG) by 2050 for the NYK Group’s oceangoing businesses,” said Paul Sheffield, Drax Group’s Chief Commercial Officer.
