BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 2. Shipping's 2030 decarbonization objective of 20% emission reductions, as established by the International Maritime Organization (IMO), will not be achieved without substantial energy-saving measures, according to DNV's latest Maritime Forecast to 2050, Trend reports via the DNV company's latest report.
The report stressed that, until carbon-neutral fuels become viable, prioritizing the development and use of technologies that reduce energy consumption is crucial for lowering shipping’s emissions.
"While we are currently witnessing a slowdown of decarbonization in shipping, we are entering an era of unprecedented technological exploration that will drive progress forward. With carbon-neutral fuels in short supply, smart decision-making and strategic investments today are crucial to lay the foundations for future emissions reductions.
Prioritizing energy efficiency, leveraging technological solutions, and embracing digitalization are key steps towards reducing the extra cost burden and achieving our decarbonization goals," DNV Maritime CEO Knut Orbeck-Nilssen said.
Besides, the report emphasized that regardless of which direction the industry’s decarbonization process takes, it will come at a significant cost.
According to the report, reducing energy losses is the most straightforward way for the global fleet to cut emissions.
The report said that operational and technical energy efficiency measures can reduce fuel consumption by between 4 and 16 percent by 2030.
Reducing energy consumption by 16 percent for the world fleet would save 40 Mt of fuel and 120 Mt CO2 emissions, which would be equivalent to operating the 55,000 smallest ships or the 2,500 largest ships with carbon-neutral fuel, the report also noted.
The report highlighted solutions like shore power and batteries, which can reduce reliance on costly carbon-neutral fuels.
In this context, the report mentioned that shore power can cut the seven percent of total energy consumption that ships use in ports by replacing onboard fossil fuel-generated electricity.
Finally, the report emphasized the increasingly important role digitalization plays in complementing operational and technical energy efficiency measures.
According to the report, digital verification tools are also crucial for establishing an infrastructure of trust, fostering industry-wide collaboration, and facilitating new contractual arrangements, and incentivizing energy savings.
Originally founded in Notway in 1864, presently DNV offers services to many sectors and has 350 offices spread over more than 100 countries. It employs around 15,000 people. With 13,175 vessels and mobile offshore units (MOUs) totaling 265.4 million gross tons, DNV offers services with a worldwide market share of 21 percent.
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