Page 9 - European Energy Innovation - Spring 2017 publication
P. 9
Spring 2017 European Energy Innovation 9
GREEN SHIPPING
obligation for ships to carry energy Figure 1: Marginal abatement cost curve for dry bulkers (source: TNO: GHG emission
efficiency management plans on reduction potential of EU-related maritime transport and on its impacts, study carried
board. out for the European Commission, 2015). The graph shows that significant emission
cuts can be achieved with low cost measures. Measures in green are cost-effective and
These measures are expected to those in red would trigger net costs for the ships.
dampen further emissions growth,
but not reduce emissions from today’s
levels. Moreover, latest IMO figures
show that many ships built in 2013
and 2014 already go beyond future
requirements under the current
efficiency standard. This raises
concerns over the standard’s level of
ambition and its ability to incentivise
the uptake of existing technologies
and the development of new
technologies.
SHIPPING’S DECARBONISATION
POTENTIAL
It is clear that further action to reduce
emissions from shipping is urgently
required. The good news for the sector
is that it also makes good economic
sense.
The second IMO greenhouse gas by implementing new innovative An important next step will be the
study, published in 2009, identified technologies. development of the IMO’s strategy for
technical and operational measures reducing greenhouse gas emissions
that could tap into the sector’s Wind energy, for example, could be from ships, to be adopted in spring
significant emissions reduction used on a number of ship types to 2018. This initial strategy will list
potential. If implemented, these support the conventional propulsion possible short-, mid- and long-term
measures could increase efficiency powered by diesel engines. A recent measures with possible timelines for
and reduce emissions by 25% to 75% study commissioned by the European completion. The idea is that it would
below the current levels. Commission identified a market allow the shipping sector to announce
potential for around 3,700–10,700 its contribution to the international
Moreover, many of these measures wind propulsion systems installed on effort under the stocktaking process of
are cost-effective: reduced fuel bills bulkers and tankers by 2030, creating the Paris Agreement.
ensure the pay-back of operational up to 18,000 new jobs.
or investment costs. Non-financial It is of utmost importance that this
barriers, however, may discourage In the long run, alternative fuels strategy clearly defines the sector’s
their implementation. could offer further decarbonisation level of ambition – in other words,
opportunities, as long as these fuels its emission reduction objective
Recent studies confirm these findings. come from renewable energy sources. for the mid- and longer term. This
The following graph (‘marginal should constitute a fair share
abatement cost curve’) visualises the AN EMISSIONS REDUCTION contribution to the Paris Agreement
emission reduction potential and the OBJECTIVE FOR MARITIME objective to limit global temperature
related costs for a very common ship TRANSPORT increase to well below 2°C above
type – dry bulkers used for example to By tapping into this tremendous pre-industrial levels.
transport iron ore or grain. Measures potential, the shipping sector can
in green are cost-effective and those contribute its fair share to the global We invite all stakeholders to actively
in red would trigger net costs for the efforts to limit climate change. For contribute to this important work
ships. a sector that is global by nature, the to ensure the shipping sector’s
most effective way forward is taking contribution to the global climate
On top of these measures, additional action at global level through the IMO. effort. l
reductions could be achieved
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