The following is text of a news release from DNV GL:
(HAMBURG, Germany) — Classification society DNV GL has issued a new whitepaper that assesses a range of alternative fuels and technologies. “Alternative Fuels and Technologies for Greener Shipping” examines the price, availability, regulatory challenges and environmental benefits of alternative fuels and technologies, including liquefied natural gas (LNG), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), hydrogen, fuel cells, and hybrid and battery technologies, and compares them to the use of conventional fuel with scrubbers and new low sulfur alternatives. Through the new whitepaper, DNV GL intends to offer the shipping industry insights that will help it in preparations for the upcoming global sulfur cap, which is due to come into effect on Jan. 1, 2020.
“The incoming International Maritime Organization (IMO) sulfur cap on emissions from shipping could have a significant effect on the maritime industry, and it has the potential to be a game-changer for alternative fuels,” said Trond Hodne, senior vice president and sales and marketing director at DNV GL-Maritime. “Our new whitepaper is designed to set out the options for interested stakeholders and to offer a balanced assessment of the potential of these fuels and technologies going forward. We hope that by doing so we can add to the growing body of knowledge and enable investment decisions to be made with greater certainty and confidence.”
The technologies and fuels considered in the whitepaper are many of the most commonly used in the shipping industry today: LNG, LPG, methanol, biofuel, hydrogen, battery systems, fuel cell systems, and wind-assisted propulsion. The whitepaper identifies and examines the factors that will affect the uptake and acceptance of alternative fuels and technologies in shipping, including environmental compatibility, availability, fuel costs and the international rules within the IGF Code. Over the short term, the white paper foresees that the vast majority of conventionally fueled vessels already in service will either switch to low sulfur conventional fuels, or implement a scrubber system while continuing to use heavy fuel oil (HFO).
For newbuilds, the sulfur cap could be a major driver for alternative fuels, and DNV GL’s Gerd Wursig, business director for alternative-fueled ships at DNV GL-Maritime, believes that LNG is the prime contender among them. “LNG has already overcome the barriers related to international legislation and is available in sufficient quantities today to meet the requirements of the shipping industry for many years," he said. "It also fits within the trend of demands to lower emissions of CO2, NOx and particulate matter. At the end of the day however, the best concept for a given application needs to be determined by the shipowner on a case-by-case basis.”
The full whitepaper or an executive summary can be downloaded by clicking here.
