Rotterdam-Singapore GDSC conducts end-to-end sustainability certification pilot for liquefied bio-methane bunkering
The Rotterdam-Singapore Green and Digital Shipping Corridor (GDSC) partners have conducted a successful pilot for the bunkering of mass-balanced liquefied bio-methane (LBM) at the Port of Rotterdam (PoR). A total of 100 tonnes of mass-balanced LBM was supplied by Shell to CMA CGM’s liquefied natural gas (LNG)-powered containership CMA CGM TIVOLI.
Produced from waste-based feedstock, the LBM used in this pilot provides a lower-emission alternative to conventional marine fuels. This initiative, led by the bio-methane working group, supports the GDSC’s broader commitment to advancing the adoption of near-zero emissions fuels along one of the world’s busiest shipping trade routes. The feedstock used for the LBM bunkered is classified under Annex IXa of the Renewable Energy Directive II.
The bio-methane working group, led by SEA-LNG, is one of the working groups established to encourage the uptake of zero- and near-zero emissions fuels. Other working groups are also exploring pathways for alternative fuels such as methanol, ammonia and hydrogen.
Proof of Sustainability certificate verifying that the LBM fuel supplied complies with regulations by the European Union. The certificate will undergo auditing by third-parties accredited by International Sustainability and Carbon Certification-European Union (ISCC-EU). The International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) is a certification system that ensures compliance with international sustainability standards for all sustainable feedstock, such as the production of bio-methane. ISCC-EU specifically applies to the raw materials and fuels stated in the European Union’s Renewable Energy Directive.
The pilot applied the mass balance methodology to track the movement of the LBM through the supply chain and ensure compliance with ISCC-EU certification standards, Renewable Energy Directive II, and FuelEU Maritime regulations. This end-to-end certification and tracking supports the development of methodologies which will need to be consistent with the accounting framework adopted by countries under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. This test will also provide CMA CGM with the opportunity to ensure that mass-balanced LBM is properly recognized by the authorities in relation to the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) regulation. A similar LBM bunkering pilot with full sustainability certification is planned at the Port of Singapore.
Note: The mass balance methodology is a type of chain of custody approach that allows stakeholders to trace the sustainability of materials moving along the value chain through a "paper trail.” In the context of the pilot, mass balancing involves the blending of sustainability certified bio-methane with non-sustainability certified conventional LNG across transport, storage and distribution infrastructure within the EU grid.
Established in August 2022 by PoR and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), the Rotterdam-Singapore GDSC aims to accelerate maritime decarbonization and digitalization and foster collaboration among global ports and stakeholders. To-date, the GDSC initiative has brought together 28 global value-chain partners across shipping lines, fuel suppliers, port authorities and operator, industry coalitions, banks, leading institutes of higher learning and knowledge partners.
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