Airbus trialing Neste marine biofuel

January 11, 2023 |

In France, in line with its ambition to reduce its carbon emissions, Airbus is introducing renewable fuel on one of the vessels it uses for transportation by sea. A test campaign has been launched on the route Saint-Nazaire-Tunis-Naples at the end of December 2022, which will run for 18 months.

Provided by Neste and produced in Rotterdam, the renewable diesel fuel is made of HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil, or residual cooking oil) which contains no fossil fuels or additives. The fuel will be used for the first time on the Airbus vessel ‘Ciudad de Cadiz’ on the route Saint-Nazaire-Tunis-Naples-Saint-Nazaire operated by LDA, Louis Dreyfus Armateurs, and carrying major components for the A320 family between its production sites. During the 18-month test campaign, around a third of the total fuel (around 330 tons) is expected to be renewable, which will reduce CO2 emissions by up to 20% per trip compared to fossil fuel. In one year, on this route only, Airbus aims to save around 6,000 tons of CO2. 

This test campaign will enable Airbus and its partners to evaluate the performance of the renewable fuel and the vessel’s engine, and confirm by how much it has been able to reduce its CO2 emissions. 

Category: Fuels

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