Port of Rotterdam Authority renews clean-fuel deal with Varo Energy Group

From left, Boudewijn Siemons, CEO of Port Authority Rotterdam, and Ben van Kol, director of Varo Energy Bunkering (Photo: Roger Waleson)

The Port of Rotterdam Authority in the Netherlands announced Feb. 15 that it will continue using clean fuel and energy for its vessels and emergency-power facilities, such as radar stations.

To this end, Boudewijn Siemons, CEO and interim chief operating officer for the Port of Rotterdam Authority, signed a new agreement with Varo Energy Group.

In the port authority’s tender process for the cleanest usable-energy carrier, Varo’s products came out best.

Since 2018, the Port of Rotterdam has been using Varo’s HVO100 (100 percent hydrotreated vegetable oil) for its fleet.

This biofuel is made entirely from sustainable materials, and reduces the fleet’s CO2 emissions by up to 89 percent compared to conventional diesel fuel.

The biofuel can be mixed with conventional diesel in any ratio and is suitable—without modifications—for all current diesel engines.

“For this reason, HVO is a very accessible and cost-efficient way to reduce CO2 emissions,” the Port of Rotterdam Authority stated.

The Port of Rotterdam Authority noted that its policy is to transition gradually to emission-free vessels from 2025 forward.

The supplier was therefore presented with the challenge to brainstorm about providing different forms of fuels and oils, also in light of Port of Rotterdam Authority’s air-quality goals.

“This could include alternative-energy carriers such as hydrogen, methanol, biofuel and other synthetic fuels,” the Port of Rotterdam Authority stated.