In Spain, Maersk, Renfe and Cepsa will carry out the first test in Spain with second-generation biofuels in the railway sector with the aim of decarbonizing the rail corridor linking Algeciras and Madrid with the use of renewable diesel on the non-electrified segment between Algeciras-Cordoba and the use of renewable electric energy on the segment to the capital.
The project will begin in early July and will last for three months. Cepsa will supply 160 tons of second-generation biofuel, produced at its La Rábida Energy Park (Huelva) from used cooking oils to cover a total of five weekly round trips. Renewable diesel will replace conventional diesel in the Renfe locomotives that Maersk uses to transport its customers’ goods from Algeciras to Cordoba. In Cordoba, they will continue the route to Madrid on electric trains powered by renewable energy.
This renewable diesel will cover almost 40,000 kilometers and avoid the emission of more than 600 tons of greenhouse gases.
The implementation of this pilot test will make it possible to extract technical, environmental and economic data to analyze the feasibility of using green fuels as an alternative to conventional diesel in rail transport on non-electrified lines, with the aim of offering this solution to other Maersk customers.
