Airbus launched a test campaign in December to explore the use of renewable fuel in the maritime operations of its vessels moving major components between different production sites.
This is part of the European manufacturer’s ongoing efforts to reduce environmental impact throughout its production chain, which includes the use of SAF (sustainable aviation fuel) on flights of its Beluga freighters since 2019 and the use of biogas trucks since 2021.
The tests will last 18 months, and the first vessel to use sustainable fuel will be the «City of Cadiz» on the Saint-Nazaire-Tunis-Naples-Saint-Nazair route, operated by LDA (Louis Dreyfus Armateurs), which carries major components of the A320 family.
According to Airbus, around a third of the total fuel (around 330 tons) is expected to be renewable, which will reduce emissions per trip by up to 20% compared to fossil fuels. Per year, the emissions savings would total around 6,000 tons.
The sustainable fuel is supplied by Neste and produced in Rotterdam. It is made from HVO (hydrogen-treated vegetable oil, or waste cooking oil), with no fossil fuels or additives.
