Blue Water significantly reduces CO2 emissions by switching to HVO in port operations
Blue Water is taking a new step in its efforts to reduce the company's CO2 emissions by introducing hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO) diesel as fuel for port activities in Esbjerg, Aarhus and Lindø, Denmark. The switch to HVO diesel will reduce emissions by up to 90% compared to traditional diesel.
This corresponds to an annual saving of approx. 1,575 tons of CO2 from Blue Water's total direct emissions according to 2024 figures. The initiative covers close to 600,000 liters of diesel per year for equipment such as forklift trucks, reach stackers and terminal tractors used in daily operations to lift heavy items such as components for the wind turbine industry at port facilities.
“We see a market advantage in the availability of HVO, which enables us to take a significant step towards more sustainable port operations. It is a strong example of how we translate ambitions into action,” said Søren N. Thomsen, CEO of Blue Water. “This investment reduces our environmental footprint and strengthens our position as a responsible and forward-looking logistics partner.”
The first fueling with HVO diesel became a reality at the Port of Esbjerg, where the team from Blue Water – who have been working on this initiative for a long time – were present together with representatives from involved partners.
“We have had a strong partnership with Blue Water for many years, and we are delighted that it is now also making a concrete contribution to reducing CO2 in Esbjerg. It is important that we work together across companies and functions to bring about real change,” said Karen Sandrini, ESG & Sustainability Manager at the Port of Esbjerg.
Port of Esbjerg already has a strong focus on sustainability and is constantly working to reduce its climate footprint with the ambition of becoming a climate neutral port. This includes the establishment of a shore power facility that ensures that the majority of the port's visiting vessels can turn off their generators and use wind energy instead. Blue Water is the largest player in Esbjerg's onshore port activities, and there has therefore been strong support for the HVO phase-in all the way.
In 2023, Blue Water committed to the international Science Based Targets initiative with a goal of reducing scope 1 and 2 emissions by 42% by 2030. With the implementation of HVO diesel, Blue Water has the potential to reduce emissions by 37.8% annually based on the CO2 accounts for 2024, bringing it a major step closer to the goal.
"The future of the company's use of HVO depends largely on market availability, which fortunately has improved significantly this year. Interest in more responsible fuels is growing, and so is supply. We naturally hope to expand the use of HVO to other parts of the business. For us, it's about acting when opportunities arise," explained Søren N. Thomsen.
The implementation in Esbjerg, Aarhus and Lindø therefore marks not only a step forward in terms of climate, but also a strategic investment in making Blue Water an even stronger and more responsible logistics partner in the future.
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