Emulsion fuels developer Quadrise has announced the pilot scale production of stable blends of bioMSAR, containing up to 40% of Vertoro’s crude sugar oil (CSO), which was subsequently tested by Aquafuel on Quadrise’s Cummins diesel engine using a bioMSAR blend containing 18-20% of CSO.
Quadrise and Vertoro have been collaborating to develop an alternative to glycerine in bioMSAR fuel, following a Joint Development Agreement announced last September.
The recent tests of CSO bioMSAR, when compared with conventional diesel, demonstrated engine efficiency improvements of 7%, a reduction in NOx emissions of up to 16% and a reduction in carbon monoxide emissions of over 50% - which are said to be in line with conventional bioMSAR results.
A further phase of testing is now planned at Aquafuel on bioMSAR containing up to 40% CSO material. Subsequent testing is also being scheduled on a larger medium-speed diesel engine later in the year.
According to Quadrise, these results and scheduled tests are expected to accelerate larger-scale trials and the potential use of lower-cost CSO bioMSAR for the marine and power generation sectors.
Commenting on this latest milestone, Jason Miles, CEO of Quadrise, said: ‘Quadrise aims to offer ship owners and power producers practical, low-cost decarbonisation alternatives that require minimal modifications and make use of existing fuel supply logistics and infrastructure.
The Company is delighted with the test results to date that combine Vertoro's crude sugar oil with bioMSAR fuel. CSO products are potentially the most price competitive net-zero biofuel solutions for the marine sector.
‘This offers another compelling solution for the marine sector as it looks to accelerate decarbonisation and emissions reduction economically and safely. It also advances our programme to supply net-zero bioMSAR™ by 2030 by combining a wide range of sustainable biofuels that are soluble in oil or water.’
Michael Boot, Co-founder and Co-CEO of Vertoro, added: ‘We're excited by the progress to date to accelerate the use, within the bioMSAR formulation, of our crude sugar oil, which can be produced from sustainably sourced forestry and agricultural residues, as well as end-of-life paper and textile (cotton) fibres.
‘Using sugars in engines directly, instead of fermenting them first to ethanol, opens up a completely new and competitive decarbonisation pathway for hard to abate sectors such as shipping. The increased engine efficiency and more favourable low emissions profile observed in recent engine tests further underlines the potential of this innovative fuel.’
