Page 18 - European Energy Innovation - autumn 2019 publication
P. 18
18 Autumn 2019 European Energy Innovation
SUSTAINABLE SHIPPING
arising during exploration and through (IMO) has promised to reduce underestimated. 3D printing, KI and
the supply chain, as well as the CO2 maritime green house gases (GHG) tailor-made production technologies
associated to combustion. The emissions by 50 percent by 2050. This are helping to bring change to global
maritime industry is also looking at is a demanding target that requires logistics and the transport sector.
other technological developments, significant efforts from a sector There may be fewer containers and
such as synthetic fuels like methanol that was not even part of the Paris- more dry bulk such as granulates
or ethanol from hydrogen; and fuel agreement of 2015. Slow steaming from metal, plastic or renewable
cell-powered ships are increasingly might be one way to cope, but that sources. What will be the resulting
feasible options. Wind-powered will surely not reduce emissions impacts on ship building and
ships might even make a comeback, sufficiently. meanwhile, these operations?
while more efficient technology (such inevitable changes will happen while
as propeller and hull design) and the business model of ports, shipping, In this context, we may one day
optimised operation can save large production and global logistics is look back and remember the
amounts of energy. It will take time transformed by digitisation. financial crisis of 2008 and its long
for large-scale operations to become term consequences as something
financially valid and energy efficient. Today, whenever we talk about the of a small wave accompanied by
But the past has shown that if there maritime business, we should keep a light breeze as the forthcoming
is sufficient pressure, development in mind that the next wave of change developments move the maritime
can be surprisingly quick: fortunately might rise even higher and more business into turbulent waters again.
some companies have performed forcefully than the one presented For industry to be prepared for rough
well as front runners. by these challenges. China may no seas, heavy waters or even a tsunami,
longer be the global workbench, it has to rely on the maritime sector
The only certainty is constant change while Europe risks getting old and itself. But there is reason to believe
In addition to the global sulphur stagnant. Africa is on the move: that lessons from former crises have
cap and designation of more ECAs its population is predicted to grow been learned: Spot the wave in time,
to protect human health, the to one billion; and its people are hop on board and ride it as best
International Maritime Organisation young, often ambitious and always as possible. l
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