Digital Fuel Passport

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping by 50% by 2050 compared to 2008 levels. To achieve this, IMO is implementing decarbonization regulations, including the adoption of alternative fuels and mandating accounting of fuel GHG emissions on a full lifecycle basis. Lifecycle fuel emissions include emissions from raw material sourcing and processing, fuel production, transportation, distribution, and fuel use onboard the ship. However, accurately tracking lifecycle fuel emissions is a difficult task due to the multitude of fuel production pathways which leads to wildly different emission intensities for fuels even if the fuels are chemically identical. In addition, the marine fuel supply chain is extremely complex which will contribute to the difficulty of the task. In such a complex fuel production and regulatory environment, transparency, traceability, and accuracy of emission data are crucial. Without accurately documenting and verifying marine fuel GHG emissions, it is impossible to measure the progress of maritime decarbonization. The Digital Fuel Passport (DFP) project aims to address these challenges by demonstrating that it is possible to accurately document, track, and verify GHG emissions of marine fuels across the fuel supply chain. This will be achieved by utilizing technological building blocks: Lifecycle assessment method, Fuel tagging technology and blockchain technology. These technologies are available and already well-established. Upon successful demonstration of the project, fuel producers, shipowners, and regulators can rely on the accuracy of the data generated and shared through the DFP system for commercial, compliance and reporting needs. This helps track emission reduction goals for all parties. It also promotes transparency, accountability, collaboration, and action for sustainability.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) only regulates the greenhouse gas emission of fuels from Tank-To-Wake but in the coming few years it is set to include Well-To-Tank emissions as well. We anticipate that documenting and verifying Well-To-Tank emissions of fuels will be more difficult than Tank-To-Wake emissions, primarily due to the multitude of feedstocks, energy sources and fuel production ways used to supply fuels. The Digital Fuel Passport project aims to accurately document and verify emissions incurred in the entire fuel value chain from raw material sourcing to fuel use, incorporating both Well-To-Tank and Tank-To-Wake emissions. The DFP fosters collaboration among stakeholders within the fuel supply chain. The project will be enabled through multidisciplinary convergence of LCA of fuel emissions, fuel marking and laboratory analysis, and the use of distributed ledger technology. This initiative aims to bridge the existing trust gap among fuel suppliers, fuel users, regulators, and society at large. By doing so, it seeks to establish transparency, accuracy, and a consistent methodology for measuring and reporting emissions throughout the entire fuel value chain. To accomplish this objective, the project has formed partnerships with shipping companies, fuel producers, certification bodies, and fuel marking companies, all of whom share a vested interest in achieving the project's objectives. Successful completion of the project will represent a pivotal milestone in the pursuit of the IMO decarbonization target. By documenting emissions incurred throughout the fuel value chain, the DFP project empowers stakeholders with the transparency and trust needed to help the shipping industry to decarbonize. Several R&D challenges will be tackled in the project including how to link fuel emission data efficiently and reliably with fuel marker properties and identification of suitable fuel markers for green marine fuels.