Cepsa begins supplying biofuels to Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings in the Port of Barcelona

Cepsaa leading provider of energy for the maritime transport In Spain, it has made its first direct supply of second generation biofuels for the cruise industry in the Port of Barcelona. New supplies have been confirmed for the coming months, with biofuels regularly available in the ports of Barcelona and Algeciras.

The fuel supplied contains 24% sustainable component, which will avoid the emission of approximately 3000 tons of CO2, equivalent to planting 200,000 trees. This biofuel has been produced from used cooking oils, which promotes the circular economy. Exploited by Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH), The Norwegian Escape, a passenger ship measuring around 325 metres in length, received its first supply of biofuel at the end of July and is expected to be supplied with biofuel throughout the current cruise season in the European Union.

Cepsa also supplied biofuel to two other ships operated by NCLH, the 223-metre Seven Seas Voyager and the 239-metre Oceania Riviera, in early August. With this supply, Cepsa further consolidates its position as a benchmark in the energy transition and a leader in the supply of energy for maritime transport. Cepsa has the capacity to supply these sustainable fuels to the cruise industry on a regular basis in the rest of the Spanish ports in which it operates.

Samir Fernandez, Director of Marine Fuel Solutions at Cepsa, commented: “We are delighted that second-generation biofuels are now being leveraged by the cruise industry on its journey towards decarbonisation. Marine fuels can be used on ships without the need to modify their engines, and have a high potential for reducing CO2 emissions compared to conventional fossil fuels, achieving a reduction of up to 90% over their life cycle, making them an ideal immediate solution.”

This development comes as the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is focusing its attention on ensuring the industry has sufficient access to low-carbon fuels to achieve net-zero carbon cruising by 2050. According to CLIA’s latest State of the Cruise Industry report, more than 31 million people around the world will choose to take a cruise by 2023, with more than 8 million of those in Europe.

Now that the sector has rebounded significantly following Covid-19, it is essential to facilitate rapid and significant decarbonisation. The International Energy Agency notes that, historically, petroleum-derived fuels have met more than 99% of total energy demand for international shipping.

To achieve the net zerothe sector will need to increase the use of alternative fuels, including biofuels, green hydrogen and ammonia, and renewable electricity. The use of biofuels enables shipping companies to meet the objectives of the European Union and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO). In particular, the European Commission’s “Fit for 55” package includes “FuelEU Maritime”, a legislative initiative that aims to reduce the greenhouse gas emission intensity of maritime transport by 2% in 2025, 6% in 2030 and 80% in 2050, compared to 2020 levels, through the use of sustainable fuels.

At the same time, the IMO has updated its strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping, setting ambitious targets that will progressively increase from 20% in 2030 to 20% in 2031. net zero emissions by 2050compared to 2008 levels. Cepsa has a diversified portfolio of solutions to facilitate the decarbonisation of maritime transport. In addition to biofuels, this includes products such as liquefied natural gas (LNG). In addition, Cepsa plans to supply synthetic marine fuels in the future, such as green ammonia or methanol, which will be produced in the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley that it is developing in Andalusia, one of the largest green hydrogen projects in Europe.

This initiative further underlines the Cepsa’s commitment with the second generation biofuels as a catalyst for advancing the decarbonisation of maritime transport. Through its 2030 strategy, ‘Positive Motion’, Cepsa aims to lead sustainable mobility and promote the decarbonisation of heavy transport (air, sea and land) through the production of green molecules. The company aims to be the leading producer of biofuels in Spain and Portugal in 2030, with a production capacity of 2.5 million tonnes per year, and of green hydrogen with an annual production capacity equivalent to 2 GW.