LNG & LBG Bunkering Gothenburg
published on: 27 November 2018
Press release
Major breakthrough – renewable gas bunkering at Swedegas new facility at the Port of Gothenburg
Gothenburg-based shipping company Terntank was the very first operator to take on liquefied gas at a new bunkering facility at the Port of Gothenburg. Not only liquefied natural gas, LNG, but also liquefied biogas, LBG.
“Being able to offer this unique opportunity represents a major breakthrough, not only in facilitating the transition to LNG, but also in gradually increasing the proportion of renewable gas,” said Johan Zettergren, Chief Executive of Swedegas, which owns and runs the facility.
With liquefied natural gas, LNG, as a marine fuel, shipping is about to take a major step forward in the transition process, breaking away from its reliance on oil and moving boldly towards more environmentally smart alternatives. LNG is currently the cleanest marine fuel available due to its low emissions.
The facility is the only one of its kind in Sweden. Designed from the very outset to handle both LNG and LBG, which in terms of chemical composition are largely identical, makes the new facility flexible to meet the transition of the shipping sector.
“LNG is the first step. The ambition to increase the volume of biogas has taken a new turn, as this technology and related infrastructure work equally well for both gases,” said Tryggve Möller, CEO of Terntank Ship Management, which has invested in LNG-powered vessels chartered by NEOT. “We are delighted to be working with companies that are driving the industry forward and with a firm focus on promoting clean shipping.”
The LNG and LBG that was bunkered at the facility was supplied by the Norwegian company Barents NaturGass, which has long, solid experience of gas distribution.
”We are looking forward to being part of this unique concept where we can offer customers both LNG and LBG, said Gudrun Rollefsen, CEO at Barents NaturGass.
The LBG was produced by FordonsGas at its facility in Lidköping north of Gothenburg.
“A green energy wave is gathering momentum in the marine sector, and we are looking forward to being part of this pioneering venture and continuing our close and fruitful collaboration,” said Emil Glimåker, FordonsGas Chief Executive.
Time-effective bunkering
The facility is the first in Sweden that allows tankers to bunker from a fixed pipeline as they load and discharge, reducing the turnaround time considerably. In 2015, the Port Authority introduced an environmental discount on the port charge as part of a drive to increase the number of calls by vessels powered by LNG.
“The discount has been a strong contributing factor behind many companies switching to LNG. In our endeavour to sustain this trend, we decided to extend the discount period by a further two years to 2020,” said Jill Söderwall, Vice President Business Area Energy at the Port of Gothenburg.
Sweden has already today one of the world’s most climate-smart merchant fleets and is set to lead the way in the expansion of green shipping. LNG and LBG will play a major role in the transition.
“It is my firm belief that gas suppliers will come to realise the importance of the shipping sector as a gas user. Access to renewable gas will increase, opening up new and exciting opportunities. Every step we take towards more sustainable transport is vital,” said Johan Zettergren.
For further information, please contact Saila Horttanainen, Swedegas, on +46 (0)70 622 76 06.
Fact file:
LNG/LBG. Using LNG, liquefied natural gas, as a fuel reduces emissions of sulphur dioxide and particles by 99 per cent, resulting in cleaner air and a cleaner marine environment. A substantial reduction of approx 90 to 95 per cent in nitric oxide emissions can also be achieved. LNG generates around 25 per cent lower carbon dioxide emissions compared with a conventional marine fuel. LBG, liquefied biogas, is a 100% renewable fuel produced from a variety of sources, including organic waste, and net emissions of carbon dioxide are zero.
EU support The EU has assigned LNG Gothenburg PCI status, making it one of the most prioritised infrastructure projects in Europe. The EU, via the INEA (Innovation and Networks Executive Agency), has also provided the necessary support to bring the project to fruition.
Swedegas is investing in a smart gas infrastructure and it owns and operates the gas distribution network along the west coast of Sweden. The bunkering facility at the Port of Gothenburg handles both liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied biogas (LBG). Swedegas is working to reach a point where, by 2030, some 30 per cent of the energy in the company’s systems will be renewable. The Gas Barometer shows that the proportion of renewable gas in the distribution network already stands at 18.6 per cent (Q2, 2018).
The shipping company Terntank was founded in 1958 on the island of Donsö in Gothenburg’s southern archipelago. With a modern, environmentally friendly fleet of tankers, Terntank works closely with its customers. Terntank’s first LNG-powered vessel was delivered in 2016 and today the company has four similar vessels.
NEOT (North European Oil Trade) is a fuel supply company focusing on the Baltic Sea region. Annually the company supplies around 7 billion litres of fuel to Finland, Sweden and Norway. The major Nordic service station chains St1, Shell and ABC get their fuels from NEOT. In addition, the company supplies heating oil for homes and companies as well as fuels for seagoing vessels and the aviation industry.
Barents NaturGass supplies shipping and industry with natural gas and LNG. Barents NaturGass has customers throughout the whole of Scandinavia and is part of the Broadview Energy Solutions group, which is involved in pan-European LNG distribution. Barents Naturgass is LNG/LBG supplier for the Swedegas facility.
The Port of Gothenburg is the biggest port in Scandinavia and the gateway to the world for a large proportion of Swedish industry. Some 70 per cent of the population and companies in Scandinavia are within a radius of 500 kilometres of the port. Almost 30 per cent of Sweden’s foreign trade passes through the Port of Gothenburg. Since 2015, it has offered an environmental discount on the port charge to vessels powered by LNG.
FordonsGas is part of the Air Liquide Group. Through the company’s growing network of more than 40 energy stations, it is seeking to increase the proportion of biogas-powered travel and transport. Air Liquide is Sweden’s only producer of liquefied biogas (LBG).
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