UK’s Red Funnel ferry trialing Green D+ fuel based on Neste HVO

In the UK, Red Funnel announced that it is trialing the use of Green D+ fossil-free fuel on its ro-pax fleet of ships which operate between Southampton and the Isle of Wight.

The cross-Solent ferry company has teamed up with Green Biofuels to trial Green D+ biofuel with varying amounts of low-sulphur Marine Gas Oil, to power the main engines and on-board generators. The aim is to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Green D+ fuel is formulated by Green Biofuels using a patented performance additive to HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) renewable diesel. The HVO is produced by Neste in Europe from a variety of waste and residue materials (i.e. used cooking oil and waste fats from the food processing industry) as well as plant oils (such as Palm Oil and Rapeseed Oil). The waste oil is recycled back into fuel, eliminating the dangers of inefficient and often dangerous disposal or its re-use in the food chain.