Cepsa successfully tests advanced biofuels for maritime transport for the first time in Spain

MADRID, 6 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

Cepsa has successfully carried out the first test in Spain of advanced biofuels on one of the ships used by the company, the Montestena, owned by Ibaizabal, during several weeks of sailing, the company reported.

In this way, the multi-energy company indicated that it "reinforces its position as a benchmark in the energy transition and a national leader in the supply of energy to maritime transport", a market in which it has more than 90 years of experience and a presence in more than 60 ports of the Spanish geography.

Specifically, Cepsa wanted to test the efficiency of this biofuel, produced from used oils (with an ISCC certificate of sustainable origin) and very low sulfur fuel (VLSFO), in its own fleet before Start marketing them to your customers.

The biofuel used in the test was loaded at the Cepsa Bioenergy plant, located in the San Roque Energy Park (Cádiz), and supplied by one of the vessels that the company uses in its bunkering operations in the Bay of Algeciras .

Previously, the company had submitted this biofuel to analysis and testing at its research center to verify that it complies with all specifications and quality standards. The results of this test have shown optimum operation and performance of the motors.

Cepsa's Bunker director, Carlos Giner, stressed that this test "confirms the safety and technical feasibility of using advanced biofuels in maritime transport, a sector that has the ambition to decarbonise and for which we are prepared to supply these new sustainable fuels.

"At Cepsa, we put all our experience to make biofuels a sustainable alternative for the present, advancing in parallel with new technologies that will make it possible to decarbonize this sector in the future, such as green ammonia, e-methanol or biogas," he added.

For his part, Cepsa's Director of Biofuels stated that "this solution demonstrates to the market that second-generation biofuels can be used as direct fuel to help the industry meet its emission reduction targets, and that its implementation is viable in the short and medium term.

The biofuel can be used in ships without making any modifications and its characteristic is that it is practically free of sulfur oxide (SOx) and has a high potential for reducing CO2 emissions compared to conventional fossil fuels.

This progress is part of Cepsa's 2030 strategic plan, 'Positive Motion', through which the company promotes the decarbonisation of heavy transport (maritime, air and road) through the production of green molecules, mainly biofuels and green hydrogen .

Specifically, the energy company aspires to lead the manufacture of biofuels in Spain and Portugal by 2030, with an annual production of 2.5 million tons.