Splash247 - Shipping’s green bullet
Shipping’s singular focus on alternative fuels to lower costs and GHG emissions ignores the most immediate renewable energy solution: Wind. New technologies make this established solution the best short term propulsion answer, says Diane Gilpin, CEO of Smart Green Shipping.
The ongoing climate emergency makes the need to reduce emissions from shipping more urgent than ever. The best way to lower emissions is to use less fuel onboard ships, which will also result in lowered fuel costs – and, if handled correctly, less operational complexity.
At present, maritime has an overwhelming focus on low-carbon fuels, with options such as LNG, ammonia and hydrogen being trialled onboard ships and discussed at forums such as the IMO. However, progress has been slow, the transition will be expensive and many shipowners are frustrated with a lack of clarity, which leaves them vulnerable to stranded assets and unpredictable fuel cost risks.