Page 19 - European Energy Innovation - Spring 2017 publication

Spring 2017 European Energy Innovation
promoting more sustainable shipping.
However, in my opinion both aims
are not mutually exclusive, providing
possibilities for innovation and new
investment opportunities: Among
them alternative fuelling systems,
improving efficiency in designing
ships or further development of
propulsion systems – just to name a
few. For this article, I want to focus on to safety and spatial adaptation to
hybrid engines and the option of using
biofuels like methanol or ethanol as
relevant case studies.
Hydrogen – an energy carrier and
source for fuelling – has significant
benefits. The EU agreed to promote
hydrogen fuel cells and hydrogen
technologies until 2024 (European
Parliament, 2015). Firstly, hydrogen can
be produced and refilled during the
shipping itself by using solar or wind
power. Consequentially, the usage
of hydrogen could not only reduce
carbon dioxide emissions, but present
a solution against the dependence on
limited sources of energy. Secondly,
methanol as a maritime fuel has the
big advantage to only produce water
and carbon dioxide when burned.
Furthermore, by not discharging any
sulphuric oxides and oil methanol
has less impact on the maritime
environment. Thirdly, to run a container
ship a vast amount of electricity is
needed for lights, computers, and
sensors. Usually the engine is the sole
energy source for lights and the ship’s
instruments. Hydrogen could be used
Bibliography
European Parliament. (April 2015). www.europarl.europa.eu. Von http://www.europarl.europa.eu/sides/getDoc.do?type=TA&reference=P8-TA-2015-
0166&format=XML&language=EN abgerufen
Eurostat. (16. December 2016). Von http://appsso.eurostat.ec.europa.eu/nui/show.do?dataset=mar_sg_am_ewx&lang=en abgerufen
International Energy Agency. (2015). www.iea.org. Von https://www.iea.org/publications/freepublications/publication/
www.europeanenergyinnovation.eu
GREEN SHIPPING
to establish a decentralized energy
grid, which would increase efficiency,
safety on board and save materials
constructing a ship.
However, using methanol and
liquefied hydrogen require changes
for engine systems, which is costly.
Moreover, it raises issues related
use both fuels. Both substances are
highly flammable and the flash point
of methanol is only 12°C making it a
dangerous substance. Furthermore,
the production and processing of
liquefied hydrogen is rather inefficient.
Compared to diesel, which has an
efficiency of 52%, liquefied hydrogen’s
efficiency is only 29% (International
Energy Agency, 2015). However,
hydrogen fuel cells have an efficiency
of 52.3%, making this hydrogen
technology even more efficient than
the diesel used right now.
At this point in time, hydrogen is still
a novel maritime fuel and fuelling
source for most sectors. In 2010, the
first passenger ship completely fuelled
by hydrogen went into operation.
In terms of container shipping the
technology is not in use yet. It will
take time to develop the necessary
infrastructure and technology to use
it on a large scale. Nevertheless, the
groundwork for using hydrogen and
its potential has to be worked on
now. That is why I support the EU’s
decision to improve the research on
19
hydrogen by using up to 470 million
Euro of EU funds and including money
of the private sector in the context of
public-private partnerships (European
Parliament, 2015). In the end, market
dynamics will determine if these
energy sources can succeed. It is our
obligation as politicians to set the right
legal framework, which can unlock
investment, facilitate research and
ensure a safe implementation. If
these steps are done the right way,
I believe it will be valuable for the
future of shipping and the maritime
economy. l
Gesine Meissner (MEP/ALDE)
comes from the German state of
Lower Saxony. She is the FDP's
delegate for Germany's Northern
and North-eastern regions in the
European Parliament. She is the
liberal group's vice-coordinator
in the EP's Transport Committee
and substitute member in
the Environment and Industry
Committees. Moreover, she
is president of the European
Parliament's Intergroup on Seas,
Rivers, Islands & Coastal Areas
(www.searica.eu/en/) as well as vice-
chair of Germany's Liberal Women.
Maritime and transport issues are
close to her political heart because
of the sectors' immense importance
for the future.