Three Japanese companies and Drax Group have signed a memorandum of understanding to develop the world’s first biomass-fuelled ship (bioship) and the technology that could power it.

Biomass is playing a growing role in Japan’s transition from fossil fuel power generation to low carbon and renewable electricity, and the country’s demand for biomass pellets, sourced primarily from North America and composed of sawmill and forestry residues, is increasing.

Drax believes that the technology could decarbonise shipping of biomass pellets to Japan, potentially reducing carbon emissions by 22 per cent, but the essential sustainability of using pellets has been contested.

Drax currently produces biomass pellets in both the US and Canada. The company has a longstanding relationship with NBP which transports its pellets to Japan through smaller handysize bulkers, which, due to the limited size of their fuel tanks, have proved challenging to switch to lower emission fuels, such as ammonia.

The biomass fuel plant would use a gasifier to combust biomass at high temperatures and create and contain gases including carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and methane. These gases would then be used to power a generator which could propel the bioship and also provide a proportion of its internal power.

The companies will initially conduct research to develop the new shipping technology, an on-board biomass fuel plant, which would be required to power a bioship. The four companies are exploring how other renewable technologies could be used to reduce both the emissions and fuel costs of shipping biomass.

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