Danish shipping company Norden is working on a pilot project with Microsoft to help reduce its maritime supply chain emissions by utilising Norden’s biofuel voyage and Book and Claim solution.
Norden COO Anne Jensen said: “We are pleased to work with a like-minded partner in Microsoft, sharing our ambition to scale the use of low-carbon fuels to reduce emissions in the maritime industry. With the addition of Microsoft to our portfolio of customers, we are demonstrating that Norden can help any company that is dependent on maritime transportation in reducing its supply chain emissions in the here and now, while we as a carrier overcome the challenges of limited geographic availability of low-carbon fuels.”
With the pilot project, Microsoft is expected to reduce its maritime Scope 3 emissions by nearly 10,000t CO2e over a three year period.
Norden and Microsoft will engage with the Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) to pilot updates to RSB’s globally recognised book and claim system, ensuring it supports credible tracking of sustainable maritime fuel claims.
Julia Fidler, Environmental Sustainability – Fuel and Material Decarbonisation Lead, Microsoft, said: “This project with Norden, together with our pilot with the RSB, will further develop the important registry infrastructure required to help Microsoft lower our maritime supply chain emissions in a transparent and credible way, while fostering the growth of sustainable maritime fuels.”
Norden’s book and claim solution enables companies that are relying on maritime transportation to take advantage of emissions reductions from low-carbon fuels, regardless of geographical fuel availability. Furthermore, with a book and claim system, it is possible for companies – like Microsoft – to reduce maritime emissions, even if not directly partnered with a specific shipping company. In a pilot project, Norden used certified waste-based biofuel over several voyages, offering an 80-90% life cycle emissions reduction compared to traditional fossil fuels. Norden transfers the emissions reductions to Microsoft via its book and claim solution, providing full transparency on the transferred reductions. The pilot project underwent a double audit by independent verifiers and follows a framework developed by the Smart Freight Centre, ensuring full traceability and credibility.
