Using biofuel to reduce fossil CO2 emissions by up to 90%
At Volvo Penta, we see HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil) biofuel as a means for taking immediate action in the journey to greater sustainability at sea. We’ve fully embraced HVO 100 and use it in all our vessels at our test facility in Krossholmen, Sweden. It’s important for us to help our customers too. One is Clinton Marine Survey, which is gradually shifting its fleet to HVO 100 and is already seeing the benefits in reduced emissions.
A key part of the success of Clinton Marine Survey is down to its desire to think differently about the work it does. In fact, for CEO Martin Wikmar, the opportunity to do things differently – and better – was the motivation that led him to found the company.
Since its earliest days in 2015, the company has been pioneering new ways of mapping the ocean. Most survey businesses use larger vessels that require more fuel. Clinton Marine Survey has made its name by combining state-of-the-art technology with smaller vessels for more efficient and accurate results.
“Comparatively, the 5m-25m vessels we are running on HVO 100 at Clinton Marine Survey use significantly less fuel per day than the typically larger survey vessels running on mainstream diesel fuel at other companies,” explains Martin. “Take our vessel MV Northern Wind, for example, which is one of the first vessels that we tested using HVO 100. MV Northern Wind is 19 meters and uses around 500 liters of fuel per day, whereas competitors’ larger vessels can use up to 10,000 liters per day. Our combination of smaller vessels and running on HVO 100 makes a staggering difference to a project’s total fossil carbon emissions.”
But even with gains in operational efficiency from its vessels and technologies, Martin Wikmar and Clinton Marine Survey were still seeking advances in another important area for the company: environmental impact. And it was this that led the company to look at HVO 100 as a viable fuel option. Having assessed its suitability, Martin Wikmar first decided to move all company cars to HVO which, in turn, reduced car-related fossil CO2 emissions by a staggering 90 percent. When this proved a success, and the impact tangible, the business started to ask itself whether this could be replicated across its fleet of marine vessels.
Clinton Marine Survey is a long-time user of Volvo Penta marine propulsion. The pilot for using HVO 100 at sea started with the MV Northern Wind, which is 19 meters and runs with four crew, and MV Lode, a 12-meter vessel with two crew.
Both boats showed dramatic reductions in emissions from the switch to HVO 100 with absolutely no deterioration in performance. So Clinton Marine Survey looked at expanding the transition to its bigger vessel. The MV Northern Storm – a 25-meter, five-crew vessel – is being fitted with two new Volvo Penta D16 engines that are, like all Volvo Penta commercial engines, verified for running on HVO 100. The D16 MH is an in-line, 16.1-liter, charge air cooled marine engine, which is HVO compatible. It therefore has an excellent operating economy, world-class performance, and low emissions – a perfect match for both Clinton Marine Survey’s vessel and mission.
In terms of impact, Clinton Marine Survey estimates that through this move, fossil CO2 emissions can be reduced by up to 90% per day, equaling a potential yearly fossil CO2 saving of nearly six million kilograms.
Martin said: “At Clinton Marine Survey, our transition to HVO 100-fueled Volvo Penta engines has made a significant improvement in our environmental footprint. The switch is as simple as just fueling with HVO 100 instead of traditional diesel. We want to lead by example and our clients appreciate having the choice of HVO 100 to fuel their projects – which in turn helps us and them to achieve their sustainability goals.
“HVO 100 biofuel is more expensive than traditional diesel and that is the only challenge when making the switch. However, since we’ve made the option available, more and more clients are willing to take on this monetary cost to achieve the huge reduction in fossil carbon emissions,” Martin said.
Clinton Marine Survey is headquartered in Sweden but serves customers across Europe. Into the future, Clinton Marine Survey is optimistic it will see increased interest in HVO 100 from its clients across the renewables energy, large scale mapping hydrography, cables and pipeline markets.
HVO 100 has the potential to help improve sustainability at sea with immediate results while utilizing existing technology and installations. Interest around HVO – particularly HVO 100 – is growing. At Volvo Penta, we’ll continue to lead the industry in facilitating the increased use of HVO 100, to reduce the fossil CO2 emissions of today’s fleet while we innovate tomorrow’s marine propulsion solutions.
Read more about our use of HVO 100 at our world-leading boat-test facility at Krossholmen, Sweden.
Learn about the top 5 considerations when switching your vessel to HVO 100.
Since its earliest days in 2015, the company has been pioneering new ways of mapping the ocean. Most survey businesses use larger vessels that require more fuel. Clinton Marine Survey has made its name by combining state-of-the-art technology with smaller vessels for more efficient and accurate results.
“Comparatively, the 5m-25m vessels we are running on HVO 100 at Clinton Marine Survey use significantly less fuel per day than the typically larger survey vessels running on mainstream diesel fuel at other companies,” explains Martin. “Take our vessel MV Northern Wind, for example, which is one of the first vessels that we tested using HVO 100. MV Northern Wind is 19 meters and uses around 500 liters of fuel per day, whereas competitors’ larger vessels can use up to 10,000 liters per day. Our combination of smaller vessels and running on HVO 100 makes a staggering difference to a project’s total fossil carbon emissions.”
But even with gains in operational efficiency from its vessels and technologies, Martin Wikmar and Clinton Marine Survey were still seeking advances in another important area for the company: environmental impact. And it was this that led the company to look at HVO 100 as a viable fuel option. Having assessed its suitability, Martin Wikmar first decided to move all company cars to HVO which, in turn, reduced car-related fossil CO2 emissions by a staggering 90 percent. When this proved a success, and the impact tangible, the business started to ask itself whether this could be replicated across its fleet of marine vessels.
Clinton Marine Survey is a long-time user of Volvo Penta marine propulsion. The pilot for using HVO 100 at sea started with the MV Northern Wind, which is 19 meters and runs with four crew, and MV Lode, a 12-meter vessel with two crew.
Both boats showed dramatic reductions in emissions from the switch to HVO 100 with absolutely no deterioration in performance. So Clinton Marine Survey looked at expanding the transition to its bigger vessel. The MV Northern Storm – a 25-meter, five-crew vessel – is being fitted with two new Volvo Penta D16 engines that are, like all Volvo Penta commercial engines, verified for running on HVO 100. The D16 MH is an in-line, 16.1-liter, charge air cooled marine engine, which is HVO compatible. It therefore has an excellent operating economy, world-class performance, and low emissions – a perfect match for both Clinton Marine Survey’s vessel and mission.
In terms of impact, Clinton Marine Survey estimates that through this move, fossil CO2 emissions can be reduced by up to 90% per day, equaling a potential yearly fossil CO2 saving of nearly six million kilograms.
Martin said: “At Clinton Marine Survey, our transition to HVO 100-fueled Volvo Penta engines has made a significant improvement in our environmental footprint. The switch is as simple as just fueling with HVO 100 instead of traditional diesel. We want to lead by example and our clients appreciate having the choice of HVO 100 to fuel their projects – which in turn helps us and them to achieve their sustainability goals.
“HVO 100 biofuel is more expensive than traditional diesel and that is the only challenge when making the switch. However, since we’ve made the option available, more and more clients are willing to take on this monetary cost to achieve the huge reduction in fossil carbon emissions,” Martin said.
Clinton Marine Survey is headquartered in Sweden but serves customers across Europe. Into the future, Clinton Marine Survey is optimistic it will see increased interest in HVO 100 from its clients across the renewables energy, large scale mapping hydrography, cables and pipeline markets.
HVO 100 has the potential to help improve sustainability at sea with immediate results while utilizing existing technology and installations. Interest around HVO – particularly HVO 100 – is growing. At Volvo Penta, we’ll continue to lead the industry in facilitating the increased use of HVO 100, to reduce the fossil CO2 emissions of today’s fleet while we innovate tomorrow’s marine propulsion solutions.
Read more about our use of HVO 100 at our world-leading boat-test facility at Krossholmen, Sweden.
Learn about the top 5 considerations when switching your vessel to HVO 100.
Volvo Penta North America
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