The first passenger ships powered by second-generation biofuels set sail this month from Algeciras

During the month of August, the oil company Cepsa will supply 84 trips with 2G biofuels to cross the Strait of Gibraltar on Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea ferries. This is the first time that passenger ships will use this type of sustainable fuel in Spain, which is produced from agricultural waste in the San Roque Energy Park (Campo de Gibraltar, Cádiz).

With the almost 100 tons of renewable diesel supplied, the emission of 63 tons of CO2 will be avoided, the equivalent of planting 750 trees. In addition, it will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 90% compared to conventional fuels.. Cespa is committed to sustainable fuels as a way to promote the decarbonisation of maritime transport and promote the circular economy.

Samir Fernández, director of Cepsa's Marine Fuel Solutions, highlights the importance of this project and their objective of becoming the leader in the production of biofuels in Spain and Portugal.”We continue to promote sustainable mobility as one of our strategic pillars of growth and at the same time that we facilitate the decarbonization of our clients in the maritime sector”.

This initiative consolidates Cespa's position as a benchmark for the energy transition and national leader in the supply of energy to this type of transport, a market in which it has more than 90 years of experience and a presence in more than 60 ports throughout the country. Spanish.

Cespa has adapted its Isomax unit, one of its plants in the San Roque Energy Park, to produce second-generation renewable diesel via coprocessing. Second generation biofuels can be used in ships without the need for modifications to their engines.

Agustín Aguilera, Director of Exploitation and Environment of Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea, affirms their commitment to the energy transition of the project, “it has been easy to understand Cepsa and for this reason we have entrusted the use of second generation biofuels, which we are already using it on our ships in the lines of the Strait and we will extend it to the rest of the fleet”. Aguilera highlights that her carbon footprint reduction plan is already endorsed by the Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge.

One more step for the decarbonization of maritime transport

Cepsa has already tested the effectiveness of this second generation biofuel in its own fleet of ships, after a phase of analysis and trials in its Research Center, before beginning to market it to its customers, obtaining as a result optimal operation and performance of the engines.

The company has various solutions to facilitate the decarbonization of maritime transport which, in addition to biofuels, also includes products such as liquefied natural gas (LNG). Through its 2030 strategy, 'Positive Motion', Cepsa wants to lead sustainable mobility and promote the decarbonisation of maritime, air and land transport, through the production of green molecules. Thanks to the new alliances, it will be able to supply synthetic marine fuels in the future, such as green ammonia or methanol, which the company will produce within the framework of the Andalusian Green Hydrogen Valley, the largest green hydrogen project in Europe.

This initiative will allow Naviera Armas Trasmediterránea ferries to set sail from the Port of Algeciras with up to 15% renewable diesel in their tanks, anticipating the objectives set by the European Union. Specifically, the European Commission's Fit for 55 set of measures includes the 'FuelEU Maritime' legislative initiative, whose objective is to reduce the intensity of greenhouse gas emissions in maritime transport by 2% in 2025, 6% in 2030 and 80% in 2050, compared to 2020 levels, by promoting the use of sustainable alternative fuels.