During its upcoming round trip along the coastal route, the Havila Polaris will take on a total of 350 cubic meters of liquefied biogas. The first delivery of 200 cubic meters was supplied by Barents Naturgass at Polarbase, Hammerfest, on Wednesday afternoon, and the remaining volume was delivered in Bergen by Molgas Energy on Sunday, November 30.
“This is an important and very proud day for Havila Voyages. We are demonstrating that it is possible to sail the coastal route with extremely low emissions, without making any technical changes to our ships,” says Bent Martini, CEO of Havila Voyages.
Preliminary calculations show that Havila Polaris will reduce its actual CO₂ emissions by almost 92% thanks to the use of biogas and the ship's battery packs. Furthermore, local NOx and SOx emissions are completely eliminated by using biogas.
“Relevant bodies, such as FuelEU Maritime and the Norwegian Environment Agency, indicate that biogas can offer very significant emission reductions, even approaching zero, depending on the purity of the gas,” Martini adds.
“It is, therefore, a very relevant solution that can make LNG-powered ships significantly cleaner. There are many LNG vessels currently in operation worldwide, as well as many more on order or under construction. In principle, these can run on biogas without further modifications, which can help reduce emissions from the maritime sector. At the same time, our industry must maintain a broad perspective regarding technical solutions and alternative fuels. Biogas is not the solution for everyone, but combined with good energy efficiency solutions, carbon capture like LNGameChanger, hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol, the sector can make great strides.”
Currently, around 800 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of biogas are produced annually in Norway. Havila Voyages' four ships alone would need slightly less than half this volume to operate exclusively on biogas year-round.
“Norway has a long way to go in terms of biogas production, and many promising initiatives are already underway that could increase volume. These initiatives need support to become a reality, and with the Norwegian authorities involved, it’s possible. Biogas based on waste and manure will help address waste and methane challenges, as well as create more jobs along our coast, which is very important to us as a company,” explains Martini.
“Furthermore, biogas production will generate byproducts such as biological fertilizers, which will benefit the country's agricultural sector. Biogas is, quite simply, a double benefit.”
Some express skepticism about the use of so-called new or alternative fuels and fear that their introduction will compromise safety.
“First and foremost, biogas works. Havila Polaris performs exactly the same as when using natural gas, since natural gas and biogas have the same properties,” says Kurt Nærbø, captain of Havila Polaris.
“I am proud to have the honor of commanding this ship on the first time we sail in a climate-neutral manner using biogas, and to work for a company that is leading the way in demonstrating that greener shipping is possible. Safety is paramount: I would never accept command of this ship if there were even the slightest doubt about it.”
Barents Naturgass has supplied biogas to Havila Polaris and sees many opportunities for the future. “Biogas is a real ‘Kindle egg’ for Northern Norway: it solves waste problems for both households and the aquaculture industry, drives major investments in industrial projects, and creates new skilled jobs in rural areas. This is circular economy in practice and an important contribution to the green transition in the North,” says Mikael Iversen, Sales Director at Barents Naturgass.
“Now that we are supplying liquefied biogas to Havila Voyages, we are demonstrating that climate-neutral voyages along the Norwegian coast are possible. This is a significant step forward for green shipping and proof that technology, environmental considerations, and value creation can go hand in hand. Biogas makes climate-neutral freight, travel, and tourism possible. With projects like this, we enable both businesses and travelers to choose sustainable alternatives, while also strengthening rural communities in the north,” he concludes.
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