Transport represents 27% of the EU’s GHG emissions. It is also the only major sector which saw its emission grow in the EU since 1990. Thus, decarbonizing the transport sector is therefore a priority for the EU.
The challenge
According EU’s Research and innovation for climate neutrality by 2050 report, decarbonizing maritime and inland waterways transport is another significant challenge as the shipping industry currently relies almost exclusively on fossil fuels. The main challenge here is associated with cost and the high energy density required to cover long maritime distances.
Alternative fuels
Alternative fuels, such as biofuels, synfuels, ammonia or hydrogen, and carbon capture technologies at motor engine point sources appear to be the most promising avenues for decarbonizing long distance maritime transport, while electric ferries and fuel cells could be the solution for short distance shipping.
Collaboration between value chains
However, to decarbonise the shipping sector, a system-wide thinking is required and the three value chains that are central to steering the sector’s decarbonization must be involved. These include: the fuel chain; the shipbuilding chain; and the operations chain.
Alternative energy and propulsion
According to the EU, key Research & Innovation (R&I) interventions across these value chains should be considered together.
R&I efforts linked to sail propulsion technologies (e.g. use of sails, rotors and kites as an auxiliary propulsion source) should also be investigated, especially as performance gains could be important but are still uncertain and these solution require a rethink of the mode of navigation (e.g. modification of sear routes, reduction of speed, etc.).
Ocean-based carbon removal
As EU notes, R&D funding for ocean-based carbon removals ought to further develop, assess potentials and risks of currently immature methods (artificial up-/down welling, ocean alkalinity enhancement (OAE), and micro-nutrient fertilisation).
R&D is also needed to ensure the feasibility of more mature approaches (mangroves, seagrass and kelp farming) through appropriate implementation and monitoring technologies and practices that track both the carbon flows and ecosystem effects under realistic application scenarios – including remote sensing.
Transdisciplinary R&D can also enable resolving regulatory and public acceptance barriers including governance problems of the high seas and domestic law.
