By
Laura Hyde |
The maritime industry must embrace carbon-neutral fuels and prioritise the development and use of technologies that reduce energy consumption in order to meet the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s 2030 decarbonisation goal, according to the DNV’s latest Maritime Forecast to 2050 report.
“While we are currently witnessing a slowdown of decarbonisation in shipping, we are entering an era of unprecedented technological exploration that will drive progress forward,” said Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO of DNV Maritime. “With carbon-neutral fuels in short supply, smart decision-making and strategic investments today are crucial to lay the foundations for future emissions reductions. Prioritising energy efficiency, leveraging technological solutions, and embracing digitalisation are key steps towards reducing the extra cost burden and achieving our decarbonisation goals.”
The eighth edition of DNV’s Maritime Forecast to 2050 report provides an updated outlook on regulations, drivers, technologies and fuels needed for maritime decarbonisation. It explores four scenarios that could accelerate the adoption of specific fuels and technologies by 2050, as well as emphasising the significant cost of implementation of decarbonisation.
“Ultimately, the rising costs of seaborne transport will need to be passed down the value chain and the market is already seeing trends towards shifting these costs to end-users,” said Eirik Ovrum, principal consultant and lead author of Maritime Forecast to 2050. “To remain competitive, shipowners must develop and execute strategic fleet management plans.”
The report identifies reducing energy losses as the most straightforward way for the global fleet to cut emissions, as well as highlighting onboard carbon capture as potentially the most effective way to decarbonise. It also points out the carbon-dioxide handling infrastructure requires significant development, highlighting the increased availability of shore power facilities at ports and onboard batteries, which can reduce a ship’s total energy consumption in port by seven per cent.
The report also emphasises the importance of digitalisation in complementing operational and technical energy efficiency measures, with Ovrum saying: “Our new report outlines how digitalisation can shed light on vessel performance, providing vital data which shows the impact of energy saving measures. Data-driven decision making can then be used to design the next-generation of energy efficient ships which are key to the sector’s long-term success.”
Download the 2024 edition of the Maritime Forecast to 2050.