28OCT2019 - NEWS - Maersk Promotes Alcohol, Biomethane and Ammonia as Fuel

A study by A.P. Moller - Maersk and Lloyd's Register indicates that the best opportunities for decarbonizing shipping lie in finding new sustainable energy sources, in particular: alcohol, biomethane, and ammonia.

The study has found that the cost of transport will rise – not because ships themselves will require greater levels of investment but because new fuels are projected to be significantly more expensive than existing fossil solutions which will lead to increased operating costs.

“Decarbonising shipping requires a total shift in propulsion technologies, and by 2030 we need to see the first commercially viable carbon neutral vessels in service – that’s only 11 years from now. This is a game changer that requires close collaboration and joint action from researchers, regulators, technology developers, investors, customers and energy providers,” says Søren Toft, Maersk Chief Operating Officer.

“The main challenge is not at sea but on land,” he says. “Technology changes inside the vessels are minor when compared to the massive innovative solutions and fuel transformation that must be found to produce and distribute sustainable energy sources on a global scale. We need to have a commercially viable carbon neutral vessel in service 11 years from now.”