Meriaura brings out climate neutral contracts powered by biofuel
Meriaura and and Stockholm Exergi have signed a contract for the sea transport of woodchips and woodpellets within the Baltic Sea by using climate friendly, 100% biofuel as power source. The contract is the first commercial contract based on Meriaura’s 2016 built, biofuel powered EcoCoaster vessels. When operated on waste-based or recycled second generation biofuels, Meriaura’s EcoCoaster vessels are the most climate- and environmentally friendly shipping method that is available today. The lifecycle emissions of the transports can be up to 96% lower compared to fossil fuels.
Stockholm Exergi’s goal is to be fully CO2 neutral. In 2018, 86 per cent of district heat distributed was based on renewable sources or recovered energy. The rest was based on fossil fuels, including coal. By 2022, coal should be completely replaced by sustainable sources and the energy production close to 100 % will be based on renewable or recovered energy sources.
“Emissions from shipping and transport will be of greater relative importance as we phase out fossil fuels in our own production. This contract contributes to the development of transport solutions on our way towards 100 % carbon neutrality” comments Ulf Wikström, Head of Sustainability at Stockholm Exergi.
Meriaura starts offering to all its customers an option to sign for low-emission contracts against a small premium, which equals to the price difference between MGO and EcoFuel. Meriaura engages to source, produce and use EcoFuel at least the amount that equals to the total consumption of the voyages executed under the contract. "The door is now opened, and we are eager to promote this concept for our other customers as well. Step by step we can change the shipping business to become sustainable” says Beppe Rosin, the Managing Director of Meriaura. Meriaura will also provide calculations on CO2 reductions achieved by choosing this contract-type. “Our hope is that such data can be used further in the value-chain and help our customers to create added value for their end-products."
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For more information please contact:
Beppe Rosin, Managing Director, Meriaura Ltd. tel +358 50 557 4323 beppe.rosin@meriaura.fi
Meriaura Ltd specialises in the transport of industrial raw materials, products and project cargo in the Baltic Sea and Northern Europe. At present company operates a fleet of 21 vessels. Meriaura Group is the pioneer in environmentally friendly shipping. Meriaura did it’s first biofuel experiment already in 1992. It is the first shipping company using regularly biofuels at sea. The waste based biofuel is produced in the group’s own biofuel plant in Uusikaupunki. Core values of the company are environmental sustainability, efficiency and customer driven services. Meriaura Group employs approximately 250 persons.
Stockholm Exergi is a local energy company that produces resource efficient district heat, -cold and electricity for more than 800.000 people in Stockholm area. Together with it’s customers Stockholm Exergi has contributed to Stockholm being regarded as one of the world's most sustainable capital cities. The company employs approximately 700 persons and is owned by Fortum and the City of Stockholm.
