Tailors Group prepares for commercial launch of its synthetic marine biofuel in August

Tailors Group announced April 14 the commercial launch of Grin Marin, its drop-in synthetic marine biofuel, for August.

The company said Grin Marin answers “the sector’s quest for a solution to all [International Maritime Organization] and FuelEU maritime emission restrictions for good.”

Grin Marin is a synthetic, ester and renewable fuel of nonbiological origin (RFNBO)-based biofuel developed especially for the needs of modern vessels, with Tailors Group stressing that “it is not [fatty acid methyl ester (FAME)] biodiesel.”

With 100 percent of its raw material and energy being renewable, its key characteristic is that it chemically behaves like fossil fuel, according to the company.

“Meeting … the specification of ISO 8217:2017 distillate marine petroleum, it has the chemical behavior of traditional marine gasoil (MGO),” Tailors Group said. “Among other advantages, this offers an ultra-high calorific value of +42MJ/kg, at the time when a traditional FAME biodiesel would yield 15 percent less energy, hence less mileage.”

In terms of emission drops, Tailors Group said Grin Marin has demonstrated positive performance in all tests from certified laboratories and renown institutes in its eight-year development course.

It is classified as a fuel with near-zero carbon, reducing CO2 emissions by more than 94 percent, according to the company.

Moreover, Tailors Group stated that reports demonstrated drops in all other crucial pollutants, including sulfur-dioxide (SO2) reduction by 96 percent, nitrous oxide (N2O) by 86 percent and particulate matter (PM) by 97 percent when compared with real-time combustion of very-low sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO).

There was even a drop in nitrogen-oxide (NOx) emissions by 25 percent.

According to the manufacturer, production has already begun in its 10,000-metric-ton-per-year (tpy) pilot facility in Ritsona, Greece.

Distribution is expected to start by August.

The company said an expansion of capacity to 40,000 tpy is expected in 2026 and plans are underway for a 150,000-tpy unit by the end of 2028.