ANL study shows biofuels offer cost-effective way to lower shipping emissions

In Illinois, Argonne National Laboratory researchers, funded by DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office and DOT’s Maritime Administration, showed through a new study that biofuels can significantly reduce shipping emissions – between 40 and 93 percent when compared to conventional heavy fuel oil – while remaining cost-effective.

The study used publicly available datasets in ANL’s Greenhouse gases, Regulated Emissions, and Energy use in Transportation (GREET) model, which calculates the energy and environmental impact of different fuels across their full life cycle.

The study evaluated costs and emissions of biofuel alternatives including bio-oil and renewable diesel made from wood waste or fats such as used cooking oil. They also looked at mixtures of these biobased feedstocks with petroleum-based feedstocks including petroleum, natural gas and coal.