The Lloyd’s List Podcast: Has LPG been overlooked as a transitional fuel?
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BW has pioneered dual-fuelled LPG engines and recently announced a world first with a VLGC voyage on full LPG propulsion across the Pacific. It’s a voyage expected to produce 20% less greenhouse gas emissions and use 10% less fuel. Given the chorus of pro-LNG dual-fuel zealots out there right now, it’s perhaps surprising that LPG hasn’t managed work its way higher up the agenda. BW’s technology and operations chief Pontus Berg joins our reporter Inderpreet Walia this week to offer a fresh look at LPG
The selection of fuel is one of the most important decision the industry must make if the 2030 and 2050 targets are to be met.
It is very true that there is no single answer to the decarbonisation imperative. But BW LPG seems to have made some progress to cut its emissions in operations that would get it across the International Maritime Organization’s regulatory lines in 2030.
In a world-first initiative, the largest owner of very large gas carriers, BW LPG, has retrofitted its ships with dual-fuelled engines that will allow those vessels to consume both liquefied petroleum gas and conventional marine fuels.
BW Gemini, the pioneer vessel to use the green technology, has embarked on the world's first VLGC voyage on full LPG propulsion across the Pacific to Enterprise port in Houston from China. Its voyage is expected to produce 20% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to compliant fuels, and use 10% less fuel, demonstrating the benefits of LPG propulsion to the industry.
The owner is also betting on ammonia as a pathway to carbon neutral and ultimately zero carbon fuels as the conversion from LPG propulsion to ammonia will not require a big investment.
To discuss further on their hi-tech green ships with dual-fuelled propulsion, we have with us the BW LPG executive vice-president for technology and operations Pontus Berg.
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