Debut lifting of renewable diesel celebrated at Ireland’s 1st clean-fuels terminal

From left, GAC Ireland’s Mark Drake, Andy Bann and Keith Brady assisting with the first-ever cargo discharged at the terminal from the tanker Stolt Greenshank. (Photo: GAC)

GAC Ireland and Green Biofuels Ltd. U.K. have celebrated the debut lifting of biofuels from Ireland’s first clean-fuels terminal, GAC announced May 9.

Since March, the company has been appointed to operate and maintain Green Biofuels’ Cork Terminal.

The first 39,000-liter (10,303-gallon) lifting of GD+ fuel, which is made from renewable feedstocks and dramatically reduces harmful emissions by up to 90 percent, was completed in April under the eagle eye of Kenneth Long, manager of GAC Ireland’s Cork Terminal.

The fuel was heading for Mullingar in central Ireland where it will be used for several applications.

Previously, Green Biofuels leased tanks in the U.K. through third parties.

The beginning of operations at their own facility is a major milestone for the company—and it has selected GAC as its partner to provide the manning and overseeing day-to-day terminal activities.

Under the agreement, GAC provides terminal-management services at the site, including providing terminal operators, loading masters and jetty operators who are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the terminal, discharging fuel from vessels and overseeing the loading of fuel onto trucks for delivery.

“We awarded GAC the management of the terminal due to the experience and expertise of their people and their superb safety, environmental and reliability ethos,” said Alex Azadegan, operations manager for Green Biofuels. “We believe these are the principal ingredients required to successfully deliver a visionary, new facility.”

In 2021, Ireland imported over 8 million liters (2.1 million gallons) of GD+ hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) from the U.K., and Green Biofuels is seeing significant growth to this figure as industries turn to greener alternatives to fossil fuel.

Ireland has committed to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions by 51 percent by 2030 and reach net-zero by 2050.

Green Biofuels is in the business of introducing low-carbon, drop-in replacement fuels to the U.K. and Irish markets, and is powering the BBC’s coverage of this year’s Eurovision Song Contest.

“I am personally very proud to be part of this journey in making renewable fuel accessible here in Ireland on a large scale,” Long said.

GAC’s support for the biofuels sector chimes with the group’s pledge to work for a more sustainable future.

Nicholas Browne, managing director of GAC U.K. and Ireland, said, “Together with GAC Bunker Fuels, we are committed to facilitating the growth of biofuels as an alternative fuel of the future throughout the U.K. and Ireland. It is fantastic to support Green Biofuels and to work with the Port of Cork on this project.”

The Cork Terminal currently only handles GD+ but options to store other clean fuels there are being explored.

The current capacity of 38 million liters (10 million gallons) is set to increase to 53 million liters (14 million gallons) with further development.

The beginning of operations marks the beginning of a long, successful partnership in the journey towards net zero.