Douro Azul partners with sustainable biofuel Galp for Douro River cruises
Fuel made from waste cooking oil and fats enables up to 80% CO2 emissions savings.
With a strong focus on sustainability, Douro Azul becomes one of the first companies to use the new Galp biofuel, ensuring a reduction of up to 80% in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions on trips, thus making tourist cruises on the Douro River more sustainable.
In this way, three cruises from Douro Azul’s fleet have already set sail from the Gaia Quay on the Douro River, using only 100% renewable source HVO diesel from Galp.
This renewable fuel or HVO biofuel (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) can be used in current combustion engines of cruise ships and has the particularity of being produced from sustainable raw materials, such as waste cooking oils and fats, significantly reducing emissions of harmful gases into the atmosphere.
HVO biofuel (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) has also been tested in air transport by Azores Airlines (supply of SAF – sustainable aviation fuel) and can be used pure, i.e., at 100% concentration, or in a blend with up to 80% conventional diesel (from fossil origin).
Douro Azul has over 20 years of experience in the sector and is a cruise operator, navigation, and tourism experiences company of the Mystic Invest Holding, having been considered the Best River Cruise Company in Europe on three occasions.
Galp announced the analysis and development of an HVO production unit at the Sines refinery in 2021 with the capacity to produce 270 thousand tons per year of advanced renewable products. The project envisages that the unit will have the flexibility to produce both renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), and operations are expected to begin before 2025.
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