Wind energy can help cut emissions

A  major international conference was told that the roll out of new technologies can help the shipping sector cut its carbon footprint.

Shipping is responsible for an estimated tenth of transport CO2 emissions and is a major source of air pollution. Thanks to decades of relative inaction, its environmental impact is growing.

But,the conference on the future of transport heard, switching to green fuels offers a cleaner future.

The event this week is partly an opportunity for Europe’s innovators and researchers to showcase their products and continuing efforts to help cut global greenhouse gas emissions.

One such initiative is the EU-wide Waterborne Technology Platform, a Brussels-based advisory body which comprises 120 members including researchers and academia.

It was among scores of projects which took part in an exhibition which runs alongside the conference in Lisbon.

With over 7,000 m², this area will be, throughout the four days of the event, the home of major national and international references in the mobility sector. The exhibition area includes several areas, such as an interactive space for innovative projects, start-ups, International Partners and another one dedicated exclusively to national entities, called Portugal Corner.

Secretary general of  Waterborne Technology Platform,Jaap Gebraad, told this website the body seeks to “define priorities” for EU and national policymakers related to shipping, including both maritime and inland navigation.

The organisation is not EU funded but is partnered with the European Commission with the joint aim of achieving “zero emissions” in waterborne transportation.

One example of the Platform’s several initiatives is an innovative wind kite which can be used on cargo vessels to help them use significantly less fuel by utilising wind-propelled energy.

A full size mock up of the kite, called “Airseas” and developed by a French company, was on display at the Platform’s stall at the conference expo.

Gebraad said the kite can be used by cargo ships to cut both emissions and fuel consumption by up to 20 percent.

This is particularly significant as the maritime sector generally is responsible for an estimated 2 to 3 per cent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.

The importance of the industry is reflected, he said, by the fact that, worldwide, some 90 percent of all transported goods is by ships.

The importance of the sector to world trade was starkly shown by an incident in March 2021 when the Suez Canal was blocked for six days after the grounding of Ever Given, a 20,000 TEU container ship.

As one of the world's busiest trade routes the canal obstruction had a significant negative impact on trade between Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

“This incident caused a huge disruption to supply chains all over the world and does show how important the maritime sector is to our economies,” said Gebraad.

Gebraad said the Platform has worked with others to develop new technologies aimed to cutting emissions and meeting EU and other climate related targets.  This includes the EU’s aim of cutting emissions by up to 90 percent by the year 2050.

He said, “We are fully committed to the blue growth agenda and the push for zero emissions. But in the maritime sector it is important to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all. That is because there are so many different types of ships which are travelling very many different distances.”

Among the priorities for the Platform is to find funding solutions to help achieve zero emissions and assisting the sector to remain competitive. One other key goal was to make the sector “as efficient as possible.”

He said the sector was “getting there” in helping to achieve climate-related objectives.

Its efforts have been supported by EU investment of some €530m in the period from 2021 to 2027. Over the same period, the sector itself was investing €3.3 bn which, he said, “clearly shows our commitment” to such efforts.

“Yes,” he said, “the challenges we face in terms of cutting emissions are significant but we focus on the technologies that will help the sector achieve its objectives. The good news is that while there is work still to do we are getting there."

TRA is the largest European research and technology conference on transport and mobility, bringing together Portuguese and international experts to discuss the future of mobility.

Photo credit: Airseas

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