Eni (E) and MSC Cruises completed a 2,000-hour marine biofuel trial that cut greenhouse gas emissions by about 80%, Eni said Tuesday.
Eni and MSC Cruises tested Enilive's Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil diesel on the cruise ship MSC Opera without modifying the vessel's engine.
One of the MSC Opera engines was powered with 100% HVO fuel for about 2,000 hours while recording engine efficiency and emissions performance data during the trial.
The trial showed that marine engines can use pure HVO biofuel immediately without technological upgrades, while maintaining performance levels similar to those of conventional fossil marine fuels, Eni said.
The trial reduced nitrogen oxide emissions by 16%, lowered particulate emissions and cut life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions by around 80% versus traditional marine fuels through the use of fully biogenic HVO feedstocks.
Wartsila supported the collection and evaluation of engine data during the tests, while Bureau Veritas independently certified the experimental results, according to Eni.
HVO biofuel offers an immediate solution for shipping companies seeking to meet FuelEU Maritime emissions targets and lower compliance costs, Enilive Chief Executive Officer Stefano Ballista said.
Enilive produces HVO at biorefineries in Venice and Gela using waste materials including used cooking oil, animal fats and agri-food industry residues, Ballista added.
HVO, liquefied natural gas and bio-LNG can accelerate shipping decarbonization as MSC targets net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, MSC Cruises Chief Energy Transition Officer Michele Francioni said.
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