As with other hard-to-abate sectors, the shipping industry is facing many challenges to decarbonise sufficiently by 2050. Currently, the alternative fuel of choice for many is liquified natural gas (LNG) but the short-term gains negate the persistent long-term emissions. There are genuine low-carbon alternatives at hand if shipping can adjust its outlook
Green ammonia offers the best long-term solutions for a decarbonised shipping sector
SHORT HAUL Like heavy road transport, some ships on shorter routes can use battery power
LEAKAGE ISSUE LNG-powered vessels will suffer from significant leakage of methane—one of the most potent greenhouse gases
KEY QUOTE Almost all the fuels that the market is contemplating for the future are not available as such right now and if you want them on the scale required, the economics do not make sense ...
Try FORESIGHT - 30 days for €29
In many ways, ammonia can be an important part of the energy transition and be a catalyst to accelerate the development of the hydrogen economy, says Rami Reshef, CEO at Israeli fuel cell manufacturer GenCell Energy
Trucks and ships could be two means of transport running on hydrogen gas, produced using electricity, in the coming years
Efficiency measures have cut greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping industry, but if the sector is to be part of the climate solution, radical action to adopt new cleaner fuels is the only answer
As with any technology, the key to cost reduction is the rate at which the technology is deployed, but the hydrogen economy is moving forward slowly
The shipping sector must avoid taking the wrong pathway that would end up locking in polluting fuels for decades, says Delphine Gozillon at Transport & Environment
Energy losses in the production process contribute to making hydrogen produced with renewable energy expensive. Companies and researchers are working to improve the efficiency of electrolyser technology and scale it up, bringing down the green hydrogen price tag at the same time
Regulators normally only keep tabs on the climate-bashing emissions produced within a country’s territory—discounting or even completely ignoring the carbon emitted during the manufacturing and shipping of imported goods. Sweden is bucking that trend with an ambitious new policy