As part of their climate roadmap, Repsol and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings have signed a supply agreement at the Port of Barcelona that will continue the sector's energy transition. The alliance includes the use of renewable marine fuels during a period of eight years, with deliveries directly to ships that call at the city.
The calendar establishes that from 2026 biofuels will be supplied and, from 2029, renewable methanol will be incorporated for NCLH brands: Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Seas Cruises. This scheme sets a stable long-term supply for one of the key ports of the Mediterranean.
A long-term supply at the Port of Barcelona
The agreement has been designed in line with the international regulatory framework and the shared goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. All products supplied will be certified under the standard. ISCC EU, ensuring traceability and environmental compliance for the progressive decarbonization of the fleet.
The supply will be carried out during the stopovers of the three brands of the group, with direct operations in the Port de Barcelona to ensure availability and continuity of service. The initiative provides certainty in a strategic location for cruise traffic in Europe.
Repsol emphasizes the milestone nature of the agreement by demonstrating that renewable fuels can now be deployed on a large scale to reduce carbon footprint of maritime transportThe company emphasizes that these solutions allow for immediate emission reductions.
For NCLH, the alliance is seen as an example of cross-sector cooperation that strengthens its program. Sail & Sustain, ensuring continued access to low-footprint fuels at a key European port and moving toward more sustainable operations.
The role of the Tarragona Ecoplant
El renewable methanol will come from the Tarragona Ecoplant, a pioneering project in Europe that transforms urban waste into renewable fuels and circular products. The facility plans to process up to 400.000 tonnes of urban solid waste per year and produce 240.000 tonnes of renewable fuels and circular materials, with operations scheduled to begin in 2029.
NCLH becomes the first company to sign a renewable methanol supply agreement with this plant, strengthening a collaborative model that drives the circular economy and provides a new avenue for reducing emissions in maritime transport.
The introduction of renewable methanol will complement the use of biofuels, expanding the range of solutions available for the progressive decarbonization of the cruise fleet without compromising operations.
Repsol's climate goals and industrial capabilities
The alliance supports the common goal of climate neutrality in 2050In the case of NCLH, its roadmap contemplates reducing GHG intensity by 10% by 2026 and a 25% by 2030 within its corporate sustainability strategy.
Renewable liquid fuels allow the decarbonization of the current fleet without changing engines or infrastructure, offering a readily available solution to advance the IMO and European Union's objectives regarding the reduction of emissions from maritime transport.
In the industrial field, Repsol operates in Cartagena the first renewable diesel plant and SAF of the Iberian Peninsula (250.000 t/year), builds a second one in Puertollano (200.000 t/year) with commissioning planned for 2026, and plans to activate in Bilbao a demonstration plant for synthetic fuels.
Commercially, the company offers renewable diesel in more than 1.300 stations in Spain and Portugal and has set the goal of achieving the 1.500 by the end of the year. It is also a leading supplier of SAF in the Iberian Peninsula, supporting the decarbonization of air transport.
With a stable supply of biofuels from 2026 and renewable methanol from 2029, the Repsol-NCLH collaboration in Barcelona sets a precedent in the cruise industry: guaranteed availability, ISCC EU certification and the support of the Tarragona Ecoplant, all aligned with its net-zero emissions commitments and with the international regulatory requirements.