Fuel Oil News reported last August that the Harbour had begun using HVO in its workboats, including its £1.6 million Pilot Boat Atlantic, with plans to make the fuel available more widely once trials had been completed.
That next stage has now begun, with HVO available from the Harbour’s fuel berth at the Boat Park/Watersports Centre.
The £50,000, 6,500-litre refuelling facility was created with 50% match-funding from Cornwall Council’s Growth Hub Grants Programme, supported by the Government’s Low Carbon Levelling Up Fund.
Building a market for lower-carbon marine fuel
Cornwall-based fuel distributor Mitchell & Webber continues to supply the HVO.
Director Tristan Weedon commented: “We are delighted to work with Falmouth Harbour to improve access to renewable marine fuels in Cornwall. HVO is a proven renewable diesel that enables vessels to reduce their lifecycle carbon footprint immediately while continuing to operate efficiently and reliably.
“We hope this marks another important step in supporting the maritime sector’s transition to lower-carbon operations using existing infrastructure.”
HVO is a renewable paraffinic diesel manufactured from waste-derived feedstocks. For engines approved for its use, it can offer significantly lower lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than fossil diesel without requiring major engine modifications.
Falmouth Harbour says the fuel can also offer benefits including cleaner combustion, improved storage stability and a reduced risk of diesel bug.
A practical option for existing vessels
Falmouth Harbour chief executive Miles Carden said the move demonstrates the role ports and harbours can play in enabling lower-carbon operations.
“Whilst there is no single solution to decarbonisation, HVO provides a practical option for many existing vessels to reduce their environmental impact without major modifications or replacing engines.
“This investment, made possible through the Government’s Low Carbon Levelling Up Fund, shows how relatively modest public funding can unlock practical improvements that benefit boat owners, commercial operators and the wider environment.”
The Harbour describes itself as one of the first UK coastal harbours to retail HVO to both leisure and commercial users.
HVO supplied from the facility should only be used in engines and onboard equipment approved by the manufacturer for fuel meeting the EN 15940 standard.
The move represents the next step in a project which, when FON first reported on it last year, was positioned as a practical bridge towards longer-term marine decarbonisation technologies.
Images provided by Falmouth Harbour