Leading Japanese Companies, NYK Line (NYK), NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers (NBP), TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd. (“TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING”) and British renewable energy company Drax Group (Drax) have signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop both the world's first biomass-powered ship (bioship) and the technology that powers it could drive development.
Biomass is playing an increasingly important role in Japan's transition from fossil fuel power generation to low-carbon and renewable electricity, and the country's demand for biomass pellets, mainly sourced from North America and composed of sawmill and forestry residues, is increasing.
Drax produces biomass pellets in both the southern US and Canada. The company has a long-standing relationship with NBP, which transports its pellets to Japan.
These pellets are currently shipped via smaller, handheld bulk trucks, which, due to the limited size of their fuel tanks, have proven challenging to switch to lower-emitting fuels such as ammonia.
Through the MoU, which was signed at the British Embassy in Tokyo, the companies will initially research the development of the new shipping technology, an onboard biomass fuel plant, which would be required to power a bioship. The four companies are exploring how other renewable technologies can be used to reduce both emissions and fuel costs from shipping biomass.
The biomass fuel plant would use a gasifier to burn biomass at high temperatures and create and retain gases including carbon monoxide, hydrogen and methane. These gases would then be used to power a generator that could propel the bioship and also provide some of its internal energy.
Installing a biomass fuel plant could reduce CO2 emissions in bioships by 22% compared to the use of fossil fuels. If this development is successful, the companies will jointly investigate the possibility of building a bioship by the end of 2029.
- New bioship technology would use gas from biomass to propel ships
- The MoU between Japanese and British companies includes plans to develop bioship by the end of the decade
- Technology could decarbonize biomass pellet shipments to Japan, potentially cutting CO2 emissions by 22%
Featured photo caption: MoU signing ceremony. From left: Kenichi Shibata (Managing Executive Officer/General Manager of the Design Division, TSUNEISHI SHIPBUILDING Co., Ltd.); Paul Sheffield (Chief Commercial Officer, Drax Group); Masashi Suda (President, Chief Executive Officer, NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers Ltd.); Shinichi Yanagisawa (Executive Officer, NYK Line)
Source: DRAX
