Assessing the Environmental Impact and Operational Performance of HVO Use in Shipping: A Case Study on Lake Maggiore.

In a global context increasingly geared towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions, the maritime sector is called upon to introduce effective, short-term solutions to curb its environmental impact. Although research is focused on large intercontinental transport, it is essential to also address the needs of short-distance transport, which has its own peculiarities. Among the alternatives available today, advanced biofuels such as HVO (Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) represent a technically compatible and operationally flexible option, yet they are still little tested in such contexts. The study analyses the effects of replacing fossil diesel with pure HVO in a marine engine installed on a vessel that is part of the fleet operating public transport on Lake Maggiore. The experimental tests involved the measurement of consumption and exhaust emissions - CO2, CH4, total hydrocarbons (THC), NOx, PM and PN - with acquisition under simulated operating conditions. The results show a reduction in mass consumption (∼6%), and a reduction in all exhaust pollutants except for the number of particles, up about 17%. The analysis highlights the feasibility of using HVO in the short-distance marine environment without technical modifications, and suggests its adoption as an effective environmental mitigation measure in the short term, especially in local and environmentally sensitive contexts.