Vehicle manufacturers partner with UECC to cut emissions through bioLNG use

Vehicle manufacturers, including Toyota Motor Europe and Ford of Europe, have partnered with Norway-based RoRo transportation provider United European Car Carriers (UECC) to achieve “major reductions in emissions” from their logistics chain by using vessels fueled by bioLNG.

As disclosed, the trio, together with an undisclosed company from Europe, wants to tank up the bioLNG, or liquefied biomethane, for cargo transport across Europe and support UECC’s Sail for Change sustainability program.

The combined yearly emissions reduction for UECC from the manufacturer firms is estimated at around 80,000 tonnes or over one-third of its global Scope 1 emissions from ship operations of approximately 220,000 tonnes.

Moreover, the vehicle manufacturers will be able to significantly reduce their costs exposure to the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS), according to UECC’s Energy & Sustainability Manager Daniel Gent.

Gent also revealed that they want to support the uptake of alternative low-carbon fuels in line with FuelEU Maritime set to take effect next year.

“We are thrilled that three of our major clients have decided to participate in Sail for Change, which demonstrates the power of industry collaboration in advancing decarbonisation. Those willing to invest in sustainable transport now will ultimately reap the rewards as new regulations give a commercial impetus for green operations,” said UECC CEO Glenn Edvardsen.

“Enhancing the sustainability of our logistics is an important step towards our goal to become carbon neutral in Europe by 2040, and globally by 2050. UECC’s Sail for Change programme therefore represents a great opportunity to help us realise this ambition,” Jean Christophe Deville, Vice President of Supply Chain at Toyota Motor Europe, stated.

The shortsea carrier has made significant strides in decarbonizing its fleet of pure car and truck carriers (PCTCs) with the addition of five LNG-fueled newbuilds and the increased rollout of biofuels in recent years. UECC said it is on track to exceed its goal of a 45% emissions reduction by 2030 after more than doubling biofuel usage across its fleet.

Under its sustainability program Sail for Change, UECC has facilitated the bunkering of ISCC-EU certified bioLNG on its five LNG dual-fuel PCTCs at the Port of Zeebrugge through an earlier agreement with Titan Clean Fuels.

This is expected to enable the European shortsea RoRo carrier to perform carbon-neutral cargo loading operations across its port network, with customers able to access verified data on emissions reductions with clean fuel use through a CO2 registry covering the entire supply chain.

“Sustainability has always been at the core of our business strategy and we will continue to lead the way in adoption of new alternative fuels in alignment with the green operating regime for the benefit of the environment, our clients and stakeholders,” UECC’s CEO Edvardsen concluded.