Nuclear power is crucial for the maritime industry’s journey towards decarbonization and achieving net zero emissions, according to Mikal Bøe, Chairman and CEO of CORE POWER, says an article published on Energyportal.
Net zero emissions
Bøe emphasized the limitations of current alternative fuel sources and advocated for the use of “new” nuclear power as a safer, cleaner, affordable, and viable solution.
Bøe, with over 30 years of experience in technology, finance, transport, and commodities, stated that the realization that the world is likely to exceed 1.5 degrees of warming and will not reach net zero emissions by 2050 is a “defining milestone” in the energy transition. He highlighted the failure of weather-dependent power generation to meet capacity targets, citing solar power and wind power’s requirement for backup capacity of 80% and 60% respectively. In contrast, nuclear power can generate four million times more power than potential maritime alternative fuel sources like ammonia and methanol.
New nuclear technology
According to Bøe, every capesize bulker powered by new nuclear technology can prevent 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions in dry cargo transportation.
He presented the case for modern nuclear power, which addresses concerns about safety and insurance for nuclear-powered vessels. New nuclear technology is being developed to safely operate in offshore, near-shore, and in-port environments.
Current energy sources
Bøe also discussed various potential uses of nuclear power in the maritime industry, such as green shipping corridors, desalination, synthetic fuel production, and recharging electric port technology.
Bøe emphasized the need for innovative thinking in order to shape a different future, one that is not dependent on current energy sources. Nuclear power, he argued, is essential for the maritime industry to achieve its green goals and contribute to global decarbonization efforts.
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Source: Energyportal
