Neste has partnered with the Tara Ocean Foundation to supply nearly 90,000 liters of Neste MY Renewable Diesel for the Tara Polar Station’s historic 18-month drift expedition in the Central Arctic Ocean. The renewable fuel will power the vessel’s generators and heating systems in extreme sub-zero conditions, significantly reducing the expedition’s carbon footprint while ensuring mission-critical reliability.
Espoo, Finland | July 28, 2026 – As global climate research enters a critical phase, the Tara Ocean Foundation has commenced its groundbreaking Tara Polaris 1 scientific expedition. Setting a new benchmark for polar exploration, the foundation’s custom-built drifting laboratory, the Tara Polar Station, is embarking on its inaugural 18-month deployment across the Central Arctic Ocean, kicking off an ambitious 20-year scientific program backed by 30 renowned international research institutes.
Powering this vital mission through some of the planet’s most unforgiving conditions is a strategic partnership with Neste, the world’s leading producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). By supplying nearly 90,000 liters of Neste MY Renewable Diesel™, the collaboration aims to drastically reduce the climate footprint of the expedition while ensuring mission-critical reliability in extreme sub-zero environments.
A Mission-Critical Fuel for the Frozen Frontier
Operating in the Central Arctic Ocean presents a unique set of logistical and engineering hurdles. The Tara Polar Station is engineered to drift while locked in sea ice approximately 90% of the time, operating completely isolated with zero opportunity for mid-expedition refueling under extreme cold temperatures.
To sustain life support, onboard laboratories, power generation, and heating systems, the vessel relies on a hybrid energy matrix combining wind, solar, and renewable diesel, with the latter accounting for roughly 90% of the fuel load (alongside a small portion reserved for propulsion).
“We have designed the vessel energy systems to operate on renewable diesel since the very beginning for both its efficient combustion and its low carbon footprint,” said Romain Troublé, Managing Director of the Tara Ocean Foundation. “Neste is one of the leading producers of renewable diesel and I am very glad that they decided to become a partner of this fantastic and important scientific endeavor to the Arctic Ocean.”
Following its departure from its home port of Lorient, France, on July 19, the station docked in Dordrecht, the Netherlands, on July 23. There, moored at a marine bunker station operated by OK (Catom),one of Neste’s key renewable diesel distributors, the vessel took on nearly 90,000 liters of fuel before continuing its voyage toward Norway and ultimately into the Arctic ice pack by mid-August.
Engineered to function reliably at temperatures plunging down to -32°C, Neste MY Renewable Diesel serves as a direct drop-in replacement for conventional fossil diesel. Because its chemical composition mirrors standard fossil fuels, it requires no modifications to existing engine architecture or fueling infrastructure, offering a certified greenhouse gas emissions reduction of at least 50% over its life cycle compared to fossil diesel under EU RED sustainability standards.
Monitoring the Planet’s Natural Cooling System
The ocean serves as the Earth’s primary climate buffer, absorbing roughly 30% of all anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions and capturing 90% of the excess heat generated by them. Within this global network, the Central Arctic Ocean acts as a crucial planetary cooling system.
However, it is also ground zero for climate disruption. According to scientific data, the Arctic Ocean is currently warming three to four times faster than the rest of the planet.
Equipped with six advanced laboratories and an extensive suite of cutting-edge scientific instrumentation, the Tara Polar Station’s primary objective is to monitor, track, and document seasonal shifts in Arctic oceanography and biodiversity. The data harvested over the next 18 months will provide policymakers with vital empirical evidence regarding the accelerating impacts of climate change.
“Neste has a long history of helping organizations which wish to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels and related greenhouse gas emissions with renewable fuels, but this is the first time our fuel is contributing to a scientific expedition to the Arctic Ocean,” noted Carl Nyberg, Senior Vice President Commercial, Renewable Products business at Neste. “We are proud to collaborate with the Tara Ocean Foundation and to support its important scientific work by supplying our renewable diesel that delivers reliable performance even in the harshest conditions in the Arctic.”
Driving Sustainable Horizons
For Neste, this partnership marks a symbolic intersection of maritime bunkering, clean energy transition, and world-class scientific research. As the company scales its renewables production capacity, projected to hit 6.8 million tons annually by 2027, collaborations with high-visibility environmental initiatives like the Tara Ocean Foundation underscore the practical viability of drop-in renewable fuels in the world’s most demanding sectors.
As the Tara Polar Station settles into its multi-year drift across the frozen North, the expedition stands as a testament to how advanced energy solutions can underpin vital scientific discovery without compromising environmental integrity.
Neste in brief
Neste (NESTE, Nasdaq Helsinki) is the world’s leading producer of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), with production operations spanning three continents. The company’s renewables production capacity is expected to reach 6.8 million tons annually by 2027. In addition to renewables, Neste produces high-quality oil products at its Porvoo refinery in Finland and maintains a network of nearly 1,000 fuel stations, featuring an expanding service offering such as EV charging, across Finland and the Baltics.
Neste’s corporate strategy focuses on growth in renewable fuels, helping customers effectively reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Recognized globally for its sustainability performance, Neste is included in numerous international indices. In 2025, the company’s revenue stood at EUR 19.0 billion.
Source: Neste