The International Maritime Organization has set targets for slashing its carbon footprint and reducing air pollution from burning heavy fuel oil—targets that largely hinge on a new line of sustainable marine fuels. For giant cargo ships leaving the United States, biofuels made from abundant renewable carbon resources, such as forestry waste, garbage and corn stalks, could play a key role. But just how much biomass is available to make marine biofuels? Enough to replace fossil fuels? If so, what might it cost?

In the latest U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Bioprose: Bioenergy R&D Blog, Dr. Zia Abdullah from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory addresses these questions—and others—about marine biofuels, which could be critical for decarbonizing the shipping industry.

Discover five takeaways from a study on marine biofuels, supported by BETO and the U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration, here.