Enviva and MOL explore GHG emissions reduction technologies for Biomass supply chain
March 30, 2021
BETHESDA, MD and TOKYO, JP March 30, 2021 - Enviva, a global energy company specializing in sustainable wood bioenergy, and Mitsui O.S.K. Lines (MOL), a leading global marine transport group, today announced they have signed a memorandum of understanding agreement to develop and deploy an environmentally friendly bulk carrier. The goal of the agreement is to reduce the greenhouse gas ("GHG") emissions in the ocean transportation of sustainable wood pellets. In the initial stage, the partnership will explore the environmental benefits, commercial and operational feasibilities of various technologies. This will include the "Wind Challenger", a cargo ship design with a hard sail, which would reduce emissions by harnessing wind energy. MOL have been jointly studying the technology with cross-industrial partners.
"Enviva is extremely excited to partner with MOL on this innovative project to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in our supply chain," said Thomas Meth, Executive Vice President, Sales and Marketing of Enviva. "In our recently announced goal of achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, we committed to proactively engage with our partners and other key stakeholders to adopt clean energy solutions in our supply chain and this is one of the first opportunities for us to explore carbon reductions in our Scope 3 emissions.
MOL has been a long-term shipping partner of Enviva, providing a consistently professional and reliable shipping service, and we look forward to our new level of partnership which will positively impact climate mitigation and reduce carbon emissions."
Toshiaki Tanaka, Managing Executive Officer and Chief Environment and Sustainability Officer of MOL said, "We are truly excited about this partnership, and it comes at a perfect timing as we start our new business entity, MOL Drybulk, this April. By integrating the various areas of Drybulk businesses amongst our group, MOL Drybulk will aim to improve our service and provide solutions to meet the various needs of our customers, including the reduction of emissions from our shipping service. This is not an easy challenge, especially when we aim to introduce new technologies such as the Wind Challenger, so it is extremely encouraging to have Enviva as our partner, whose core mission is to fight climate change, and with their passion and determination, have proved that they can make a difference."
Plans to develop the Wind Challenger started in 2009 as an industry-academia joint research project led by the University of Tokyo. MOL took charge of the plan in 2018 and has been working on the technology since. The first Wind Challenger is scheduled to be released in 2022. The system converts wind energy to propulsive force with a telescopic hard sail. The long-term goal is to develop a widely accepted shipping solution to achieve the International Maritime Organization target in combination with other measures to reduce GHG by equipping vessels with multiple sails.
About Enviva Partners, LP
Enviva Partners, LP (NYSE: EVA) is a publicly traded master limited partnership that aggregates a natural resource, wood fiber, and processes it into a transportable form, wood pellets. The Partnership sells a significant majority of its wood pellets through long-term, take-or-pay off-take contracts with creditworthy customers in the United Kingdom, Europe, and increasingly in Japan. The Partnership owns and operates nine plants with a combined production capacity of approximately 5.3 million metric tons per year in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, and Mississippi. In addition, the Partnership exports wood pellets through its marine terminals at the Port of Chesapeake, Virginia and the Port of Wilmington, North Carolina and from third-party marine terminals in Savannah, Georgia, Mobile, Alabama, and Panama City, Florida.
To learn more about Enviva Partners, LP, please visit our website at www.envivabiomass.com and follow us on social media @Enviva.
About Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL)
Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), as a global marine transport group, operates a global fleet exceeding 700 vessels, including tankers, bulkers, car carriers, ferries, which also extends to offshore projects. Under the "MOLGROUP Environmental Vision 2.0" established in June 2020, MOL clarifies its commitment to achieve sustainable "Net Zero GHG Emissions" through collective efforts with all capabilities within the group.
MOL has recently announced the integration of their Drybulk business and the establishment of "MOL Drybulk Ltd." From this April. MOL Drybulk will be a unique entity operating vessels ranging from 10,000DWT up to 100,000DWT bulk carriers, wood chip carriers and multi-purpose vessels, with the aim to provide a "one-stop service" to the customers, work collaboratively to meet their needs and provide environmental solutions to reduce the GHG emissions throughout the supply chain.
About the "Wind Challenger"
The Wind Challenger Project started in 2009 with the "Wind Challenger Plan," an industry-academia joint research project led by The University of Tokyo, and in January 2018, MOL and Oshima Shipbuilding took charge of the plan and now play a central role in this project. In October 2019, it acquired Approval in Principle (AIP) for the design of a hard sail system.
In December 2020, MOL reached a coal transport deal with Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. using a coal carrier equipped with a Wind Challenger sail. The vessel will be constructed at Oshima Shipbuilding, and is scheduled to commence service by the end of 2022.
The Concept Video on Youtube : https://youtu.be/yXbvG6VrwNc
Please refer to the press release on December 10, 2020 "MOL, Tohoku Electric Power Sign Deal for Transport Using Coal Carrier Equipped with Hard Sail Wind Power Propulsion System (Wind Challenger) - Aiming to Reduce Environmental Impact and Boost Economic Efficiency by Introducing World's 1st Coal Carrier Equipped with a 'Sail' - https://www.mol.co.jp/en/pr/2020/img/20085.pdf