Trials show promise of tracers in combating biofuel fraud

The Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) has unveiled a groundbreaking report detailing the world’s first successful field validation of tracer technologies within marine biofuel supply chains. This initiative, carried out in Singapore, Rotterdam, and other key bunkering hubs, has proven that tracers can be seamlessly integrated into existing operations without hindering performance or compromising fuel quality.

Enhancing Authenticity in Biofuels

The trials assessed three different tracer candidates, ultimately identifying the organic tracer as the most effective for ensuring the authenticity and quantity of biofuels. This solution strikes an ideal balance among cost, detectability, and scalability, making it a practical choice for the industry. Over the course of six trials, a total of 10,400 tons of biofuel blends were bunkered, resulting in a significant 24% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional fuels.

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This initiative is part of GCMD’s broader mission to create a comprehensive assurance framework for drop-in green fuels. This framework aims to provide guarantees regarding fuel quality, quantity, and greenhouse gas (GHG) reductions, addressing the barriers that currently hinder the adoption of biofuels. Existing sustainability certification schemes, like the International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) and the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB), play a vital role in validating emissions reductions and ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements. However, these schemes often lack robust, field-level verification, leaving biofuel supply chains exposed to the risks of adulteration and potential double-counting of emissions reductions to falsely support subsidy claims.

High-profile fraud cases in recent years have highlighted an urgent need for standardized, verifiable methods to bolster the certified sustainability claims associated with biofuels. Professor Lynn Loo, CEO of GCMD, emphasized the importance of these trials, stating, “By generating evidence-based data through comprehensive trials to combat fraud, we are fostering confidence for the widespread adoption of biofuels.”