JAX LNG, a small-scale LNG facility located along the St. John’s River in Jacksonville, recently completed the first fueling of a marine vessel in the United States with a blend of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and renewable liquefied natural gas (RLNG).
JAX LNG loaded the RLNG/LNG blend into the Clean Jacksonville bunker barge to fuel the Isla Bella. The Isla Bella is the world’s first LNG-powered container ship and was put into service by TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico in 2015. Element Markets supplied the renewable natural gas (RNG) used to produce the RLNG via renewable thermal certificates (RTCs). Using RLNG to fuel marine vessels is a readily available pathway to net-zero emissions by 2050. RLNG’s emissions profile as a maritime fuel is superior even to that of LNG, which already reduces greenhouse gas emissions by more than 25% over ultra-low sulfur diesel.
Decarbonization of the transport sector has greatly accelerated through the use of regulatory incentives such as the alternative fuel tax credit, which encourages companies to adjust operations and make investments in assets that reduce carbon intensity.
Produced from the decomposition of organic waste, RNG is compatible with existing natural gas infrastructure, providing a practical and replicable source of energy that mitigates and repurposes carbon emissions. For this bunkering event, RTCs were matched to the physical LNG loaded into the Clean Jacksonville to create the RLNG/LNG blended product.
JAX LNG is the long-term supplier to the two LNG-fueled container vessels—the Isla Bella and the Perla del Caribe—that TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico utilizes to reliably transport goods between Jacksonville and Puerto Rico.
“We’re proud to partner with JAX LNG, which has continued to solidify its position as the industry leader in the clean fuel revolution,” said Mike Noone, President of TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico. “RNG is a clean, drop-in fuel source that can be readily deployed for use today, since it needs no new equipment to capture or transport it.”
“We are always looking for ways to meet the energy needs of our customers and help them reduce their environmental footprint,” said Roger Williams, VP Commercial LNG and Gas Development at BHE GT&S, the parent company of Pivotal LNG, which holds 50% ownership of JAX LNG. “TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico has always been at the forefront of the shipping industry in that regard. We are proud that this RLNG bunkering event can serve as an example of what is possible in the realm of renewable natural gas and look to further expand on this success.”
“Providing our customers an environmentally beneficial fuel source is JAX LNG’s goal,” said Tim Casey, SVP of NorthStar Midstream, which shares 50% ownership of JAX LNG. “Supplying LNG sourced from RNG further supports our commitment to aid the shipping industry’s transition to a net-zero emissions future.”
“RNG offers highly flexible pathways to reducing transportation emissions. We are glad to be part of these forward-thinking initiatives to decarbonize large-scale logistics operations,” said Angela Schwarz, Co-President and CEO of Element Markets.
About JAX LNG
JAX LNG, LLC is a joint venture between NorthStar Midstream and Pivotal LNG – a subsidiary of BHE GT&S, a Berkshire Hathaway Energy company – operating a 120,000 gallon per day LNG plant with 2 million gallons of storage, marine and truck-loading capabilities in Jacksonville, FL. An expansion is underway that will double storage and triple liquefaction capacity by early 2022. The LNG facility was constructed to bring liquefied natural gas to the southeastern U.S. and Puerto Rico. For more information on JAX LNG, visit www.jaxlng.com.
About Pivotal LNG
Pivotal LNG, LLC provides liquefied natural gas production, transportation and delivery services, and offers a number of reliable, flexible, and cost-effective customer solutions. Pivotal LNG owns and operates the Towanda LNG facility in Pennsylvania, the Trussville LNG facility in Alabama and has 50% ownership of the JAX LNG facility in Florida. The company has more than forty years of experience and is a leader in providing clean, alternative energy solutions to industries throughout the United States – from power generation and manufacturing to marine transportation and heavy-duty trucking. Pivotal LNG is majority owned by BHE GT&S in partnership with REV LNG. For more information, visit pivotallng.com.
About BHE GT&S
BHE GT&S is an interstate natural gas transmission and storage company headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, that operates around 5,500 miles of transmission lines in the eastern U.S and 756 bcf of total natural gas storage — with 420 bcf of working gas capacity — as well as gathering, processing and field services businesses. It provides a variety of LNG solutions through Pivotal LNG, its 25% operating stake in Cove Point LNG — the import, export and liquefaction facility in Lusby, Maryland — and other LNG processing and storage initiatives. We are committed to innovative and sustainable solutions that give large customers more options in moving gas safely, reliably and efficiently in their markets. More information is available at www.bhegts.com.
About NorthStar Midstream
NorthStar is a diversified logistics company providing crude oil, sand, and LNG logistics services, including storage and transportation solutions among other midstream assets. NorthStar owns Polaris New Energy, an LNG barging operation based in Jacksonville, FL, and has 50% ownership of JAX LNG. For more information, visit www.northstarmidstream.com.
About the TOTE Group
The TOTE Group includes some of the leading transportation and logistics companies in the U.S. domestic market. TOTE Maritime Puerto Rico, LLC and TOTE Maritime Alaska, LLC bring unmatched reliability and service to their respective markets, while TOTE Services, LLC offers crewing and technical services to meet the needs of commercial, privately owned and U.S. Government vessels. The TOTE Group and its subsidiaries are part of the Saltchuk family of companies. www.toteinc.com
About Element Markets
Element Markets is a leading renewable natural gas marketing and environmental commodities company that applies its diverse expertise to provide structured environmental compliance and optimization services to corporate and institutional clients. The company has a successful track record within the renewable natural gas, low carbon fuels, emissions, carbon, and renewable energy credit markets. Founded in 2005, Element Markets LLC is headquartered in Houston, Texas, and is majority-owned by The Rise Fund, TPG’s global impact investing fund. More information about the company is available at www.elementmarkets.com.
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