world's first! Euglena biodiesel fuel used on ships Test cruise on Yaeyama Sightseeing Ferry
-Navigation of the Yaeyama Islands including Okinawa and Ishigaki Island, the first step towards an environmentally friendly shipping infrastructure-

Yaeyama Tourism Ferry Co., Ltd.
Euglena Co., Ltd.

　Yaeyama Tourism Ferry Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture, President: Hiroaki Omatsu, hereinafter "Yaeyama Tourism Ferry") and Euglena Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Minato-ku, Tokyo, President: Mitsuru Izumo, hereinafter "Euglena Co., Ltd." Euglena Our next-generation biodiesel fuel“ Euglena Biodiesel Fuel ”was carried out on September 10, 2020 (Thursday) on the Yaeyama Kanko Ferry vessel. increase.

　Yaeyama Sightseeing Ferry vessels depart and arrive at Ishigaki Island, Iriomote Island, Taketomi Island, etc. in the Yaeyama area of Okinawa Prefecture. The ship sails between islands and serves not only as a transport for tourists but also as a living infrastructure for locals. Yaeyama Kanko Ferry has conducted a test cruise using Euglena biodiesel fuel in support of the "GREEN OIL JAPAN" declaration * 1 that aims to make Japan an advanced biofuel country.
　This test cruise is the world's first initiative to introduce Euglena biodiesel fuel into ships * 2. Euglena completed Japan's first biojet / diesel fuel production demonstration plant (hereinafter referred to as "biofuel production demonstration plant") in 2018, and used the manufactured biofuel as a mobile body on land, sea, and air. I have been aiming to introduce it. This initiative marks the first step in using biodiesel fuel for Euglena biodiesel fuel in ships, which are "sea" mobiles.

* 1: Euglena Co., Ltd., with the completion of the biofuel production demonstration plant in October 2018, Yokohama City, Chiyoda Corporation, Itochu Enex Co., Ltd., Isuzu Motors Ltd., ANA Holdings Co., Ltd., Hiroshima Motors Industry and Academia Declared "GREEN OIL JAPAN" aiming to "make Japan an advanced biofuel country" with the government cooperation promotion council as a supporter
* 2: Euglena biodiesel fuel mixed with petroleum-derived diesel fuel

　Euglena biodiesel fuel Euglena Co., Ltd. used for this test cruise uses the Euglena (Japanese name: Midorimushi) and used cooking oil as raw materials, even if the upper limit of mixing is 100% with respect to the diesel engine of a ship. It is a next-generation biodiesel fuel that can be used and can be supplied with existing refueling.

　In the shipping industry, international environmental regulations on fuels, etc. have begun from the aspects of climate change, air pollution, and environmental protection, and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has introduced SOx regulations * 3 to improve air pollution around the world. doing. From 2020, regulations have been further tightened to reduce the sulfur concentration in marine fuel oil from "3.5% or less" to "0.5% or less" worldwide * 4. In that respect, Euglena biodiesel fuel does not contain sulfur, which causes air pollution, so it is suitable for complying with the SOx regulations stipulated for fuel oil for ships.
　In terms of climate change measures, we will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships by 50% compared to 2008 by 2050, and release GHG emissions from the shipping industry as soon as possible during the 21st century. The goal is to eliminate it * 5. In order to achieve this goal, the shipping industry has set three means of low carbonization: (1) development of fuel-efficient vessels, (2) implementation of efficient operation operations, and (3) development of alternative fuels. It is evaluated that the impact of low carbonization by fuel is large.

* 3: International regulations on the concentration of sulfur oxides (SOx) generated when ship fuel (petroleum, coal, etc.) burns
* 4: (Source) Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry document "Roadmap for Zero Emissions of International Shipping" https://www.meti.go.jp/shingikai/energy_environment/green_innovation/pdf/002_03_03.pdf
* 5: (Source) Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism document "IMO strategy for reducing greenhouse gases (GHG) emitted from ships" http://www.mlit.go.jp/common/001250101.pdf

　Alternative fuels include biofuels, LNG (liquefied natural gas), methanol, hydrogen, and ammonia, but LNG and methanol have a lower CO2 emission reduction effect than other alternative fuels. There is a problem that hydrogen, ammonia, etc. are not compatible with the existing marine fuel refueling infrastructure. In that respect, biofuels have the advantage of being able to use existing refueling infrastructure and are carbon-neutral, which does not generate GHGs at the combustion stage, so they are promising from the perspective of climate change and air pollution control.
　Euglena Co., Ltd. has conducted this test cruise with Yaeyama Kanko Ferry to promote the use of Euglena biofuel, which is a type of biofuel, in the shipping industry.

　Yaeyama Kanko Ferry and Euglena Co., Ltd. will continue to carry out sustainable efforts in consideration of the global environment in anticipation of the full-scale introduction of Euglena
　The details of this initiative are as follows.

―Euglena Test navigation of vessels using biodiesel fuel―

● Schedule: Thursday, September 10, 2020
● Navigation route: Euglena Ishigaki Port Remote Island Terminal (Ishigaki City, Okinawa Prefecture)
● Contents: Conducted a test cruise using Euglena biodiesel fuel on a Yaeyama sightseeing ferry vessel

● About "Euglena Biodiesel Fuel"
　Euglena biodiesel fuel is 100% usable for vehicles using diesel engines such as vehicles and ships, which use the Euglena It is a generation biodiesel fuel. Since the existing refueling infrastructure of ships and vehicles using fossil fuels can be used as it is, there is no need to modify existing ships and vehicles, which may lead to efficient spread and expansion of use. ..
　Since the fuel does not contain sulfur, which causes air pollution, it is suitable for complying with the SOx regulations stipulated for fuel oil for ships.

● About the "GREEN OIL JAPAN" declaration
　Euglena declared "GREEN OIL JAPAN" aiming to "make Japan a biofuel advanced country" with the completion of the biofuel production demonstration plant in October 2018. bottom. Our By introducing the biofuel produced at the biofuel production demonstration plant to mobile objects on land, sea and air, and by expanding the supporters who manufacture and use biofuel throughout Japan by 2030, Our goal is to establish a biofuel business as an industry. With this initiative, the total number of companies and local governments that support the declaration has increased to 29. Through the realization of the goals, we will contribute to the SDGs "GOAL7: Energy for everyone and cleanliness", "GOAL13: Specific measures for climate change", and "GOAL17: Let's achieve the goals through partnership".

Euglena Co., Ltd. supports the "GREEN OIL JAPAN" declaration and implements and disseminates the use of biofuels, the supply of raw materials, and support for the spread of biofuels. ) Is being recruited. "GREEN OIL JAPAN" Declaration HP: https://euglena.jp/greenoiljapan/
Inquiries about "GREEN OIL JAPAN": https://www.euglena.jp/contact/b09/

<About Yaeyama Tourism Ferry Co., Ltd.>
　Based in Ishigaki Island, Okinawa Prefecture, we operate daily high-speed boats on regular routes connecting the islands of Taketomi Town (Taketomi Island, Kohama Island, Kuroshima, Iriomote Island, Hatoma Island). In addition to high-speed boats, freighters also transport goods to remote islands. In addition to regular flight operations, we also offer in-house tours that combine boat and remote island sightseeing tours, such as Iriomote Island, Yufu Island, and Taketomi Island tours and Taketomi Island buffalo car sightseeing. (Owned vessels: 10 high-speed vessels, 2 cargo-passenger vessels) https://www.yaeyama.co.jp

<About Euglena Co., Ltd.>
　In 2005, we succeeded in establishing the world's first edible outdoor mass culture technology for microalgae Euglena (Japanese name: Euglena) on Ishigaki Island. In addition to developing and selling functional foods and cosmetics that utilize Euglena and chlorella produced on Ishigaki Island, we are also conducting research toward the production of biofuels. Listed on TSE Mothers in December 2012. TSE First Section market change in December 2014. We define "Sustainability First" as Euglena Philosophy and develop our business. https://euglena.jp

-Contact for inquiries from the press-
Euglena Co., Ltd. Corporate Communication Division