ZERO44 launches free calculator showing what switching to biofuel really costs

ZERO44, provider of software for maritime emissions compliance, has released a free, interactive fuel cost calculator on its website. The tool shows ship operators how the economics of replacing fossil fuel with biofuel change once carbon regulations are taken into account, and how that picture shifts year by year.

According to ZERO44, fuel prices are still frequently compared on a one-to-one basis: what does a tonne of biofuel cost against a tonne of fossil fuel? If the comparison stops there, biofuel often loses due to its price premium.

“Too often, the conversation about alternative fuels stops at the price per tonne,” says Friederike Hesse, Managing Director at ZERO44. “But that doesn’t tell the whole story. Once you factor in regulatory costs and the value of over-compliance, the premium can turn into a net benefit. We built this calculator to make those mechanics visible.”

Under the calculator’s default assumptions, replacing one tonne of VLSFO with biodiesel on voyages within the EU results in a net benefit of around €163 in 2026. The outcome depends on many inputs: fossil and biofuel prices, the geographical scope of the voyage, and the prices for EU Allowances, FuelEU pooling and Scope 3 insets. The calculator brings these elements together in one view, allowing operators to understand the full picture.

This story was originally published by Hellenic Shipping News. Read the full story at Hellenic Shipping News →