CBH Group has joined forces with NORDEN and Oldendorff to test the use of renewable fuels on export routes to Europe. This pilot project, the first of its kind in the country, uses biofuels derived from waste and the “book and claim” certification system to reduce the carbon footprint of transporting grain from Western Australia.
On the use of biofuels in shipping
The program aligns with the climate requirements of the European Union, which through the “Fit for 55” package imposes limits on CO₂ emissions from ships over 5,000 gross tons operating in European ports.
Shipping companies that do not adopt low-carbon fuels face economic sanctions, a scenario that is accelerating the search for sustainable solutions.
According to Pia Van Wyngaard, CBH’s director of shipping, the cooperative has worked with its partners to leverage their expertise in clean energy without affecting operational efficiency or increasing costs for Western Australian farmers.
To date, eight voyages have employed this strategy to ship grain to the European Union, achieving significant emission reductions compared to fossil fuels.
This is not the first time CBH has explored sustainable fuels. In 2022, together with Oldendorff, it conducted a trial to transport malting barley to Vietnam using certified biofuel, an experience that consolidated the basis for the current pilot to Europe.
Source and photo: NORDEN
