Will a Swedish ferry operator be the first to power a commercial ship using biofuel?
By Ryan Skinner (email)
Swedish ferry operator Gotland Rederi has announced plans to power a new series of ferries with natural gas, and then biogas by 2020. Ferry propulsion using natural gas was first tried by the Norwegians (successfully) with Glutra starting in 2000. Subsequent natural gas-driven ferries are on order.
Biogas, according to one of the leading producers in Sweden, costs at least three to four times as much as natural gas per cubic meter. It is being used in Sweden currently to drive some cars, as it is a renewable source of energy and leads to reduced production of carbon-dioxide and other greenhouse emissions.
Gotland Rederi hopes that its commitment to running on biogas contributes to increased biogas production on its home island of Gotland.
An article from Norway's Shortsea Shipping Promotion Centre provides enlightening reading about the use of biofuels (and challenges thereof) in ships.
new series of ferries with natural gas .. hm this one is great news .. happy with that .. ferries
Posted by: ferries | March 02, 2011 at 10:25 AM
Its good to hear ferry
powered by bio gas and above all its win-win situation for everyone.
Posted by: ferry | May 16, 2011 at 03:00 PM