Molgas delivers mass-balanced bio-LNG in Norway

Spanish LNG bunker supplier Molgas delivered 200 mt of mass-balanced bio-LNG to a tanker operated by Swedish shipping firm Furetank in Mongstad, Norway.

PHOTO: LNG dual-fuel chemical tanker, Fure Viken. Furetank

The bio-LNG (liquefied biomethane) used for this operation was produced using a mass balance accounting method.

Mass balancing is an accounting method to track flows of sustainable feedstock in the supply chain. In this approach, the biomethane is injected into a natural gas grid but not physically segregated from the natural gas in the system. An equivalent amount of blended gas is then withdrawn from the grid and liquefied into liquefied biomethane for use on dual-fuel LNG vessels.

The accounting method allows the blending of renewable and non-renewable materials while keeping an accurate tally of each. Quantifying the amount of sustainable feedstock used during production, distribution, blending and bunkering ensures that the blend is not claimed to be greener than the quantity of the sustainable feedstock used.

This is the "first time" Molgas has delivered a bio-LNG stem in Norway, Furetank said.

“We see a growing demand and interest in Bio-LNG, as it is one of the few renewable fuel solutions currently available in shipping,” Gunnar Helmen, director at Molgas Nordics explained.

“For this operation, we collaborated to prove a mass-balanced biomethane delivery and certify the entire supply chain,” he added.

By Konica Bhatt

Please get in touch with comments or additional info to news@engine.online