EYE ON GREEN INNOVATION
EDITORIAL
2024
EYE ON GREEN INNOVATION
The marine industry is not immune to decarbonization . While many changes have been made , the sector still requires more system-wide thinking .
Recent EU report ‘ Research and innovation for climate neutrality by 2050 – Challenges , opportunities and the path forward ’ underlines the need to mobilize coordinated action in the waterborne transport sector , using an ecosystems approach . The report notes that three value chains are critical to steering the sector ’ s decarbonization : the fuel chain , the shipbuilding chain , and the operations chain .
This is nothing new as such . In Europe , for example , the Waterborne Transport Platform has been working on bringing these three value chains together for a couple of years now . The Co-Programmed Partnership on Zero-Emission Waterborne Transport , a cooperation between the European Commission and the European waterborne transport sector , is seen as one key in this .
The Partnership will provide and demonstrate zero-emission solutions for all main ship types and services before 2030 , enabling zero-emission waterborne transport before 2050 . In the meantime , over 120 members from 21 EU Member States ( and four countries associated to Horizon Europe ), are actively shaping the future research , development , and innovation priorities of the sector .
These members represent the private players of the broader European waterborne transport sector , ranging from classification societies , shipbuilders , shipowners , maritime equipment manufacturers , infrastructure and service providers to universities and research institutes .
Engaging in a continuous dialogue between all waterborne stakeholders is most definitely the way forward , since that interaction is likely to yield new , green innovation for maritime and beyond . One recent example of this is technology group Wärtsilä ’ s introduction of marine sector ’ s first commercially available 4-stroke engine-based solution for ammonia fuel .
Sustainable ammonia is one of the leading candidates in shipping ’ s search for alternative clean fuels . Wärtsilä ’ s new 25 Ammonia solution can immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 70 percent , compared to a similar sized diesel solution , meeting current EU targets until 2050 ( and even exceeding the IMO target for 2040 ).
The new solution represents a considerable leap in sustainable shipping operations – during a time in which ship owners are seeking viable options among green fuels . The ammonia solution is now commercially available as part of the Wärtsilä 25 engine platform .
Viridis Bulk Carriers , the world ’ s first zero emission shipping company , is intended to be the first shipowner to benefit from the new ammonia solution . Viridis Bulk Carriers is looking to change the European short sea bulk market via a carbon free transportation service based on a series of ammonia-powered newbuild vessels .
PUBLISHER PubliCo Oy Pälkäneentie 19 A FI-00510 Helsinki Finland Phone + 358 20 162 2200 info @ publico . com www . publico . com
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Petri Charpentier
PROJECT MANAGER Paul Charpentier
EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Liisa Hyvönen
GRAPHIC DESIGN Riitta Yli-Öyrä
CONTRIBUTORS Sami J . Anteroinen Ari Mononen
COVER PHOTO Meyer Turku Oy
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ISSN 1239-5803 ( print ) ISSN 2737-2006 ( online )
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PETRI CHARPENTIER www . seatec . fi / magazine
4 seatec 2024