Back
Repsol and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings sign long-term agreement to supply renewable fuels in Barcelona
Insight Out
27 Oct 2025

Repsol and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings sign long-term agreement to supply renewable fuels in Barcelona

Repsol has entered into a groundbreaking eight-year agreement with Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) to supply renewable marine fuels at the Port of Barcelona, marking an industry-first long-term collaboration in the cruise sector.

Starting from the 2026 European cruise season, Repsol will provide a range of renewable fuels—initially biofuels, and from 2029, renewable methanol—to NCLH’s fleet, which includes Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises, during their calls at the Port of Barcelona.

“This milestone agreement highlights that renewable fuels are ready to play a key role in reducing the carbon footprint of the maritime sector. By partnering with NCLH, one of the world’s leading cruise companies, we show that renewable fuels are already deployable at scale to immediately start reducing emissions at sea,” said Juan Abascal, Repsol’s Executive Managing Director of Industrial Transformation and Circular Economy.


“This partnership is an excellent example of how cross-industry collaboration can unlock meaningful progress,” said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. “Securing long-term access to renewable marine fuels at a key European port aligns directly with our Sail & Sustain program and demonstrates our commitment to advancing towards a more sustainable future.”


The partnership between Repsol and Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) was forged in response to evolving international regulations and the shared ambition of both companies to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2050. All fuels supplied under this agreement are ISCC EU-certified, ensuring full alignment with environmental standards and supporting NCLH’s decarbonization and compliance objectives.


The renewable methanol will be produced at Repsol’s Ecoplanta facility in Tarragona, Spain—a pioneering European project that converts urban waste into renewable fuels and circular products. Expected to start operations in 2029, the plant will process up to 400,000 tons of municipal solid waste annually, producing approximately 240,000 tons of renewable fuels and circular materials. NCLH is the first company to sign an offtake agreement for renewable methanol from this facility.


This collaboration highlights NCLH’s dedication to low-carbon fuel innovation and the circular economy, while maintaining cost efficiency and operational flexibility across its global fleet. It also supports NCLH’s Sail & Sustain program—an enterprise-wide initiative focused on cutting greenhouse gas (GHG) intensity, investing in sustainable fuel technologies, and fostering value chain collaboration. As part of its “Charting the Course” 2026 targets, the company aims to reduce GHG intensity by 10% by 2026 and 25% by 2030.


For Repsol, renewable fuels remain a cornerstone of its strategy to decarbonize transportation. These fuels offer an immediate and scalable solution to reduce CO₂ emissions without requiring modifications to existing engines or refueling infrastructure. The company operates the Iberian Peninsula’s first renewable diesel and SAF plant in Cartagena (250,000 tons/year) and is building a second in Puertollano (200,000 tons/year), slated for completion in 2026. Additionally, a synthetic fuels demonstration plant will begin operations in Bilbao next year. Repsol currently supplies renewable diesel at more than 1,300 service stations across Spain and Portugal—with plans to reach 1,500 by the end of the year—making it one of Europe’s largest renewable fuel networks. The company is also the leading SAF supplier in the Iberian Peninsula, actively supporting aviation’s decarbonization efforts and compliance with the EU’s 2% SAF mandate.


Share:

Subscribe to the latest news of Enginova

Subscribe to receive the latest insights, articles, and updates straight to your inbox.

...