The May 2019 edition of Maritime Reporter & Engineering News includes a significant focus on “Thought Leadership” within the marine power sector, featuring an insightful interview with Sebastiaan Bleuanus, General Manager for Research Coordination and Funding at Wärtsilä. The maritime industry is currently faced with considerable pressure to reduce emissions, stemming from evolving legislative measures aimed at improving air quality and combating climate change.
Current Environmental Pressures
Over the past fifteen years, tightening legislative measures have emerged, particularly aimed at reducing emissions in densely populated areas through initiatives like Emission Control Areas and globally through the introduction of the sulphur cap. Furthermore, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set ambitious targets for greenhouse gas emissions, reflecting a significant commitment to mitigating the shipping industry’s impact on climate change.
Comparison with Other Industries
Bleuanus notes that the pressure for emission reductions is pervasive across various sectors. However, maritime solutions benefit particularly from lessons learned in other industries, notably the successful utilization of gas as a fuel source. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) has established itself as a viable option in marine transportation, due to significant air quality improvements and substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
R&D Investments
Wärtsilä’s investment in research and development focuses heavily on efficiency and operational flexibility. The unpredictability of future shipping demands necessitates solutions that remain relevant over time. Flexibility is paramount for reducing investment risks associated with adopting innovative technology.
Fuel Choices and Trends
When discussing fuel options, LNG emerges as a frontrunner due to its immediate air quality benefits and lower climate impact. While LNG alone may not fulfill the ambitious IMO targets, its potential as a transitional fuel is significant, as it can be seamlessly integrated with Bio-LNG and synthetic alternatives derived from renewable hydrogen.
Engineering and Challenges
From an engineering perspective, the major challenge for developing next-generation propulsion systems revolves around system integration. Increasing a ship’s efficiency requires not just advancements in low-emission fuels, but also smarter and more robust systems during actual operations.
Attaining Emission Targets
Bleuanus asserts that achieving the IMO’s target of a 50% reduction in maritime emissions by 2050 is feasible, primarily through efficiency measures and vessel-level technologies, which could help achieve a 40% cut by 2030 compared to 2008 levels. Low net-carbon fuels such as bio- and synthetic LNG are expected to play a pivotal role in this transition.
Zero Carbon Emissions
Regarding the prospect of zero carbon emissions, Bleuanus emphasizes an 80% reduction in emissions is essential for vessels to collectively meet the fleet-wide 50% reduction target. To achieve this, older ships must be phased out as new, more efficient vessels are introduced, indicating a fundamental shift in fleet composition over time.
Transformational Innovations
Finally, Bleuanus highlights recent innovations, such as Wärtsilä’s operational optimization capabilities through Eniram and the Wärtsilä 31 engine, as transformative contributions aimed at improving efficiency in marine operations. The integration of these systems and technologies exemplifies a commitment to advancing the marine power sector towards more sustainable practices.
In summary, the maritime industry is navigating an evolving landscape of regulatory pressures and technological advancements, with Wärtsilä positioning itself at the forefront of this crucial transition towards sustainable shipping.
