Amsterdam: Heineken Netherlands, food products distributor Nedcargo and GoodFuels have launched a joint pilot initiative to demonstrate the significant advantages of operating inland transport barges using sustainable drop-in marine fuel.
The project, supported by the EICB (Expertise en Innovatie Centrum Binnenvaart) and the Dutch Ministry of Transport, is the most extensive of its kind and paves the way for further dramatic reductions in CO2 and local emissions from both waterway and seaborne maritime transport.
Geertje van Hooijdonk, Director, a.i. Natuur & Milieu (Nature and Environment), added: ´We see advanced sustainable biofuels made from waste as one of the options to help lower the footprint of inland shipping.´
Advanced marine fuel
The initiative will see advanced marine fuel supplied by GoodFuels containing 30% biofuel on-board the 104 teu barge For Ever – an inland barge transporting Heineken export beer from their brewery in Zoeterwoude to the deep-sea terminals in Rotterdam. The transportation of the beer will dramatically reduce CO2-emissions by more than 25% while also sharply reducing harmful local emissions such as nitrogen oxide (NOx) and particulate matter (PM).
The project showcases the feasibility of reducing emissions of inland waterway transport without any vessel modification. The exact emission reduction compared to fossil fuel will be monitored live during the pilot using Blueco’s Konnexus system for remote monitoring.
Pieter van Kooten, Manager Projects & Sustainability, Heineken Netherlands Supply says: ´It’s our ambition to make our brewery in Zoeterwoude climate neutral and we are well on the way to achieving this. …We are now taking an important step to realising a green corridor between our brewery in Zoeterwoude and the port of Rotterdam, from where we transport our beer around the world.´
The initiative paves the way for others shippers to make a direct impact to dramatically reducing CO2 and local emissions from both waterway and seaborne maritime transport sectors where sustainable biofuel has been earmarked to play a significant role.
