Repsol and Navantia partner to decarbonize maritime transport

Repsol and Navantia have signed a collaboration agreement to jointly develop innovative solutions to decarbonize maritime transport. In this way, both companies reinforce their commitment to accelerate the energy transition and achieve carbon neutrality, in line with the greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction targets of Spain, the EU, the UN and the International Maritime Organization.

The two companies will jointly evaluate the performance of new low carbon footprint liquid fuels to be supplied by Repsol ̶ biofuels and synthetic fuels ̶ in engines manufactured by Navantia, both propulsion and generation. These new fuels represent a solid alternative for the short and medium-term decarbonization of the maritime sector, as they could achieve a 100% reduction in emissions. The project will focus on evaluating the technical and economic feasibility of this new technology.

In this agreement, Repsol will contribute its research infrastructures from its technology center, the Repsol Technology Lab. Key to the implementation of the project will be the pilot plants and blending laboratories, where Repsol will formulate the widest range of fuels with a low carbon footprint, specifically for maritime transport.

For its part, the Navantia Engine Factory will provide the technical knowledge of the engines and will make its facilities in Cartagena available to the project, as well as test benches and diagnostic equipment for the characterization and development of the tests that, together with a classification society, will certify the viability and sustainability of the technology in operation.

Navantia’s participation is in line with the roadmap of Navantia’s Green Energy Department and will include the collaboration of the Center of Excellence for Hydrogen Technologies and Energy Storage (CEDTH) created by Navantia in Cartagena.

Both companies are also linked in the SHYNE initiative, the multisectoral consortium that was presented on January 19, 2022 and which brings together a total of 33 companies, associations, technology centers and universities to promote the decarbonization of the economy through renewable hydrogen. Repsol and Navantia, through its CEDETH, will explore new areas of collaboration in hydrogen.