The international shipping sector is entering a demanding regulatory era. Under the FuelEU Maritime regulation, which became active in 2025, vessel operators must systematically reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of the energy they consume on board. These requirements will become progressively stricter over the coming decades, with severe financial penalties enforced on shipping companies that fail to meet the compliance targets.

To avoid these noncompliance penalties and manage rising carbon costs under the parallel extension of the EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) to maritime shipping, fleet operators must secure scalable, low-carbon fuels. Liquefied biomethane, commonly referred to as Bio-LNG, has emerged as one of the most practical and immediate technological solutions to meet these mandates.

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The Operational Reality of FuelEU Maritime

Unlike older regulations that focused primarily on sulfur limits, FuelEU Maritime targets the entire lifecycle emissions of maritime fuels, evaluating performance on a well-to-wake basis. This means that the regulation accounts for emissions generated during the extraction, cultivation, production, and transport of the fuel, as well as its final combustion on the vessel.

The regulation sets a maximum greenhouse gas intensity limit for the energy used on board, which is measured in grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per megajoule of energy. This limit decreases in pre-planned steps over time, requiring shipping fleets to blend increasing volumes of renewable fuels into their bunkering mix.

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The Carbon Advantage of Manure-Based Bio-LNG

Bio-LNG is chemically identical to conventional liquefied natural gas (LNG), allowing vessel operators to use it in existing dual-fuel engines and cryogenic storage tanks without requiring expensive retrofits. This seamless compatibility makes it an ideal drop-in fuel.

The environmental value of Bio-LNG depends heavily on the feedstock used during its production. Under the rules established by the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive (RED III), biomethane produced from agricultural waste and animal manure is highly prioritized. Because agricultural manure would otherwise decompose and release raw methane into the atmosphere, capturing this waste to produce biomethane results in deeply negative well-to-tank emissions.

By blending relatively small volumes of manure-based Bio-LNG with conventional LNG or fuel oil, shipping companies can significantly lower the average carbon footprint of their fuel mix. This strategy enables vessels to remain compliant with FuelEU Maritime targets for years to come, without needing to replace their existing propulsion systems.

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Verification and Traceability of Maritime Biofuels

To claim the emission savings of biomethane under FuelEU Maritime, shipping companies must provide transparent proof of the fuel's origin and sustainability. This tracking relies on the mass-balance principle, ensuring a documented physical link between the certified production facility injecting gas into the grid and the maritime bunkering station where the liquefied fuel is withdrawn.

Every consignment must be backed by a valid Proof of Sustainability (PoS) certificate issued by an EU-recognized voluntary scheme, such as ISCC EU or REDcert EU. These certificates document the feedstock origin, verify that the production process achieved the mandatory greenhouse gas savings threshold, and confirm compliance with strict land-use criteria.

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Secure Your Maritime Decarbonization Strategy with AFS Energy

As the demand for low-carbon maritime fuels intensifies, securing access to verified Bio-LNG and biomethane is critical for shipping operators aiming to protect their fleets from heavy regulatory penalties. Sourcing these sustainable fuels requires deep cross-border market access and a thorough understanding of evolving European registries.

AFS Energy acts as a key partner for maritime companies, leveraging our extensive European supply networks to secure high-quality biomethane and Bio-LNG tailored to your operational needs. Our experienced team handles the entire transaction process, ensuring that every delivery is fully documented, registry-verified, and backed by the necessary sustainability certifications.

To discover how your business can secure reliable biomethane supplies and optimize its FuelEU Maritime compliance strategy, visit our biomethane solutions page and connect with our energy specialists today.