J-ENG to research biofuel on MHI test engine

The advanced biofuel will be supplied by GoodFuels via logistics partner Varo Energy. It is a ‘drop-in’ marine gasoil (MGO)-equivalent. The fuel is blended with conventional fossil-based MGO in a mix of 30% biofuel to 70% conventional MGO.

J-ENG plans to conduct various fuel tests into the use of the fuel on the two-stroke single-cylinder NC33 test engine, located at MHI’s Nagasaki research centre within MHI’s Research & Innovation Center.

The research is being conducted into the operational performance of the biofuel. Any decision around introducing options to modify existing engines depends upon the result of the research, a J-ENG source told the Motorship.

The research builds on NYK’s previous interest in utilising biofuel as an alternative fuel. NYK concluded a trial bunkering operation of biofuel to the BHP-chartered, NYK-owned bulk carrier Frontier Sky at the port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands in January 2019.

Biofuel has been attracting attention as an alternative fuel as one of the promising renewable energy toward decarbonization and one of the solutions against the energy crisis due to the depletion of natural resources such as fossil fuel.

J-ENG also noted that use of biofuel as a marine fuel is expected to expand, owing to its low level of sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions.