Arctic shipping is key to the future as seen by DNV
DNV has publicly unveiled its view of technology solutions for the next decade, pointing at mega-trends analysed on the basis of population, economy, governance, natural resources production and consumption.
mLaunched in Brussels, DNV’s Technology Outlook 2020 is intended to provide a catalogue of possible technological options for meeting some of the challenges posed by the expectation that in 2020 the demand for natural resources will exceed what the globe can sustain. The subject was first covered by The Motorship in April this year, and has now been more widely disseminated.
“The European Union plays a leading role in setting the course towards resource efficiency in many of the critical areas,” Elisabeth Harstad, managing director of DNV’s Research and Innovation Unit, said presenting the report in Brussels. “We don’t claim to have all the answers, but we have based our opinions on our expertise and competence, and we are here to exchange views with industry and EU policy-makers.”
DNV’s research has been carried out in selected areas of particular relevance to the EU’s agenda, including safe offshore drilling technologies, smart and safe energy production and distribution, carbon capture and storage, and green-ship technologies.
As far as green ship technologies are concerned, DNV recognises that the EU has a strong maritime technology base which may hold many of the solutions for future green solutions in the shipping sector. The European Commission, in its White Paper on the Future of Transport has set very ambitious emissions reductions targets for the maritime industry. DNV Technology Outlook 2020 points out that great potential lies in alternative fuels and energy efficient solutions.
Finnish MEP, Ville Itälä following closely the developments in the Baltic Sea region, commented: “Technological advances in the field of sustainable transport are much called for, especially in light of the IMO’s upcoming sulphur emissions limits. New innovations like hybrid ships and marine fuel cells are an encouraging way forward in protecting the Baltic Sea’s fragile ecosystem.”
Concluding on the key summary points, Harstad said: “There is little of that which will characterise society in 2020 that is not already in the labs or on the drawing boards. Technology developments take long, slow, steps. Technology evolution is more likely than revolution, but we can expect the technology to be used in new areas. In order to facilitate technology uptakes, close cooperation between policy makers, industry and research will be vital”.
Source: The Motorship