SIBCON 2024: DNV dives into potential of energy efficiency tech in midst of green fuels demand

While it is encouraging that about 50% of the current order book represents vessels that are capable of carbon-neutral marine fuels, there are challenges in meeting demand for those fuels, said Denzal Hargreaves of classification society DNV during SIBCON on Thursday (10 October).

Hargreaves, VP, Area Manager of South East Asia (S) & Indian Subcontinent, DNV Maritime, said this during his presentation of DNV’s Maritime Forecast to 2050 report before moderating a panel session titled Is Methanol Heading for the Mainstream?.

He explained a fuel technology transition is already underway in the maritime industry, with half the ordered tonnage capable of using liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), or methanol in dual-fuel engines. 

However, Hargreaves said the infrastructure and the rest of the supply chain must be ready to support the demand.

“Based on the order book and the ships that are ordered and the ships that are required to meet IMO’s 2030 targets, there is a need for carbon-neutral fuels,” he noted.

Based on DNV’s report, Hargreaves pointed out the potential of energy efficiency technologies to reduce the strain and need for carbon-neutral fuels but warned that without maximising these technologies, the maritime industry will need to heavily rely on carbon-neutral fuels to achieve IMO’s 2030 targets. 

“If we capitalise on all energy efficiency opportunities that are out there, we only require 10% of the estimated supply of carbon neutral fuels. But if we only take minimum benefits out of these efficiencies, we will need 100% of the potential green fuels available,” he said. 

“We do see a need to address energy losses through energy efficiency measures giving a reduction in energy consumption. And this is required not only for the existing fleet, but also for future vessels, because the demand and the available capacity of carbon neutral fuels will be quite a challenge to meet the consumption demands.”

He recommended shipowners to focus on reducing energy consumption now, have a flexible fuel pathway, and have a long-term strategy.

“Everything we commit today doesn’t mean that that’s the final but we have to start, and we have to keep going and building these blocks going forward,” he concluded. 

Manifold Times previously reported DNV presenting an outlook on six selected technologies that are receiving increased attention in the industry in its Maritime Forecast to 2050 report: solid oxide fuel cells, liquefied hydrogen, wind-assisted propulsion, air lubrication systems, onboard carbon capture, and nuclear propulsion.

The report estimates that fuel consumption can be reduced by between 4% and 16% by 2030 using operational and technical energy efficiency measures. Achieving 16% would save 40 Mt of fuel and 120 MtCO2 emissions, which would be equivalent to operating the 55,000 smallest ships or the 2,500 largest ships with carbon-neutral fuel. 

Related: DNV ‘Maritime Forecast to 2050’ report examines shipping’s energy future and role of technology in energy transition

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 18 October, 2024