What are biofuels?

Biofuels are liquid fuels produced from renewable biological sources, including organic waste such as fats, oils, used cooking grease, and even food waste. As a low carbon intensity fuel, biofuels provide energy with minimal emissions during production and use. In recent years, cruise ships have been testing biofuels to replace powering ships with traditional fuel, which have provided an estimated reduction of 86% in lifecycle GHG emissions compared to marine gas oil (MGO). While the beauty of biofuels is that we can use them in our existing ship engines without modifications to the engine and immediately lower our environmental impact, they must first become available in abundance before they can be a viable commercial option. 

Timeline for availability and scalability

To achieve the maritime industry’s decarbonization goals, an increasing number of vessels sailing and launching over the next five years will either use alternative fuels or will be able to incorporate zero-carbon fuels when they become available, according to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).[1]

The good news is that ships can use many alternative fuels today with existing engines, which is already happening with positive results. Plus, new ships currently in production are being custom designed with even more alternative fuel capabilities. The challenge, however, is that significant supply chain constraints, including cost and availability, must first be resolved before viability is reached.

Regardless, we’re not standing idly by waiting for someone else to solve the problem. We’re actively participating with producers, companies, universities, research bodies, nongovernmental organizations, and more to address these challenges and help pave the way for the future viability of biofuel as a replacement fuel.

Paving the way with industry-leading trials

Across the industry, several pilot programs are underway to test and encourage broad production of sustainable fuels, with Carnival Corporation at the forefront of helping make those fuels a reality. From 2022 to date, we’ve successfully completed several industry-first pilots using biofuel, when available, on four ships in our global fleet – AIDAprima from our German line AIDA Cruises, Volendam and Rotterdam from our Holland America Line, and Carnival Magic from our namesake Carnival Cruise Line. The results have been very promising, and we don’t plan on stopping there.

“We are very encouraged by the results of our next-generation biofuel tests,” said Gus Antorcha, president of Holland America Line. “As part of our commitment to sustainability, we are always on the lookout for cutting-edge solutions to environmental challenges that will help us pursue our ambition of net zero GHG emissions from ship operations by 2050.”

Our biofuel use isn’t just happening at sea; we’re also developing unique local partnerships with the communities we visit to bring the trials to land. Last year in Juneau, Alaska, for instance, we worked with a local biofuel refiner to convert used cooking oil from on board our ships into fuel for our tour buses. Further, five of our six lodge and motorcoach shop locations burn our used vehicle and cooking fryer oil for heating.

While our work with biofuels is exciting, it is just one piece of the puzzle in our pursuit of net zero emissions. In order to achieve a sustainable future for cruising, we need a growing supply of biofuels and other low-carbon alternatives available at scale and at marketable prices. As we lead the way, we will continue to explore every option and innovation that will be part of the solution and help make our goals a reality.

For more information on the company’s long-term sustainability vision, visit www.carnivalsustainability.com.

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[1] CLIA 2023 Global Cruise Industry Environmental Technologies and Practices Report

While we have already come a long way toward our vision to make cruising more sustainable, we understand there’s more work to do as we look ahead to our ultimate destination: net zero GHG emissions.

The route to net zero means using the technologies we have available today to improve our operational efficiency, while also innovating and identifying new ways to reduce our overall impact for the future.

Through the early use of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which we pioneered as an alternative fuel source in cruising, we have been able to deliver immediate GHG emission reductions. We currently have 10 LNG-capable ships sailing in our fleet and expect to add six more through 2033, which will comprise nearly one-third of our global fleet. As another bonus, LNG ships are fully compatible with future bio-methane and synthetic-methane, and our dual fuel LNG engines can run on biodiesel and synthetic diesel when they become available. But for now, LNG is the best available lower emission energy source that is mature, scalable, and commercially viable for the maritime industry.

Acknowledging that the technology available today alone won’t get us to net zero emissions, we are investing in and continually trialing new technologies and alternative fuels to lower our environmental impact. This includes a first-of-its-kind lithium-ion battery storage system to supplement our main energy supply, as well as supporting the adaptation of innovative biofuels to support low GHG emission fuel options.

We’re also continuously improving our existing fleet’s energy efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and cutting emissions through investments such as Power Saver Packs, a set of comprehensive technology upgrades that work together to reduce the energy required for onboard systems and services on each ship. By installing state-of-the-art air lubrication systems (ALS), our ships glide with less friction for fuel consumption savings and reduced emissions. And, we continue to expand our shore power capabilities to utilize renewable energy sources to power our ships while in port.

Our itineraries are also designed to reduce energy needs, leveraging shorter distances, slower speeds and operational improvements to further reduce fuel use and emissions, all while providing an unforgettable guest experience.

As the world’s largest cruise company, we value the responsibility to be at the helm of sustainable innovation for our industry. While we’re proud of the progress we’ve made toward a sustainable future for cruising, we also understand more work is needed to reach our final destination of net zero GHG emissions from ship operations by 2050.

Cruising is only one small piece of a much larger vacation and travel market, and we are committed to doing our part to arrive safely at “Destination: Net Zero GHG Emissions.” It’s not only the right thing to do for everyone who relies on our industry, but also for the planet we all call home.

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What is shore power?
Just because a cruise ship is in port, doesn’t mean it doesn’t need power. We still need energy to power our ships’ onboard systems and give guests the great experiences they love, from comfy air-conditioned staterooms to world-class dining options, to live music and productions shows, and even just to turn on the lights.

While the traditional approach is to use fuel-powered engines to provide the energy needed, shore power allows us to switch off our ships’ engines in port and “plug in” to use energy from the local electric grid to power systems and equipment on board. At the end of the port visit, the ship is “unplugged,” and the engines restarted for the sailaway.

A cruise ship using shore power looks similar to an electric car plugging into a charging station, except instead of recharging its batteries, the ship uses the landside electrical power directly for its energy needs, rather than its engines and fuel.

The result: the same great onboard experiences our guests and crew love, but without the engine emissions and noise in port.

It’s a win-win for the port and the cruise line
The advantages of shore power are obvious for both the port and the ship – lower air emissions in the port and the surrounding area, on top of fuel savings for the ship. In fact, using shore power can reduce total emissions by up to 98%, depending on the mix of energy sources.¹

Because cruise lines purchase the electrical energy they use, plugging into shore power also means additional revenue for the port and the local power company, and in the case of some communities, like Juneau, Alaska, lowering the cost of electricity for the residents as well.²

Making shore power more widely available
It’s been over 20 years since we first pioneered shore power for the cruise industry. And today, it is considered one of the fundamental building blocks in the marine industry’s goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and address climate change.

But not every port can offer shore power, either because of the cost to install the technology or insufficient electricity sources. So, we’re pitching in to help. While only a small number of cruise ports – just 2% worldwide – are equipped with the technology today, that number is growing, thanks in part to programs like our Shore Power Grant Guide, urging policymakers to make funding available to equip key ports.

We’re also playing matchmaker, working together with our port partners and others within and outside the industry to help ports find valuable infrastructure investment dollars to make shore power a reality. And, we’re going one step further in ports that do have shore power by using electricity from renewable sources such as hydro, wind, and solar among others.

Shore power is an important part of our sustainability journey
“Using shoreside electricity to power our ships in port is an integral part of our global strategy to reduce GHG emissions and minimize our environmental footprint,” said Josh Weinstein, chief executive officer of Carnival Corporation.

Today, Carnival Corporation leads the industry with a majority of our fleet shore-power capable, meaning we have more ships able to “plug in” than there are ports equipped to provide shore power.

And, with shore power becoming more readily available in certain areas, we are working to make even more of our ships shore power-ready.

Together, with our port partners around the world, we continue to prioritize investment in this important capability – another significant step in our ongoing commitment to reducing GHG emissions, minimizing our environmental footprint and fostering healthier port environments.

Shore power is one of Carnival Corporation’s many emission reducing initiatives in pursuit of net zero GHG emissions by 2050. For more information on our long-term sustainability vision, visit www.carnivalsustainability.com.

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¹ Environmental Protection Agency: Ocean-Going Vessel Best Practices to Improve Air Quality
² Princess Cruises Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Shore Power in Juneau