Biofuels are seen as a ‘more realistic option’ for decarbonising naval ships than ammonia, methanol, hydrocarbons or other power sources, according to a new DNV white paper.
Naval decarbonisation
Although navies are not subject to the same level of scrutiny as the commercial shipping industry, they are nevertheless coming under growing societal pressure to reduce their environmental footprint and they will have to adapt to the changes in the fuel mix that the energy transition will bring.
Classification society DNV has published its new Alternative Fuels for Naval Vessels white paper to evaluate current and emerging fuel choices, with their technical and military implications. It is also looks at other carbon abatement and efficiency enhancing measures and analyses the current navel fleets and their respective uptake of alternative fuels.
The white paper draws upon a survey conducted among 130 stakeholders from 12 countries, which indicated that more than 83% of respondents saw biofuels as a more realistic option for naval ships than ammonia, methanol, hydrocarbons or other power sources.
The paper also explores the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear propulsion, which has been used by the United States Navy for decades because of the speed and endurance it gives to combatant vessels.
Alternative fuels for a better future
Commenting on the findings, Christian von Oldershausen, DNV Maritime Segment Director for Navy, said: ‘Alternative fuels are the most effective measure to fully decarbonise in the future, but practical considerations such as logistics, fuel availability, fuel change flexibility and design impacts are critical factors in determining the feasibility of the different low- or zero-carbon fuels for the naval segment. The new paper evaluates different fuel options to provide a solid decision support for newbuilds and vessels in operation.’
Jan Christian Kaack, Vice Admiral, Chief German Navy, Commander Fleet and Supporting Forces, added: ‘This white paper provides an excellent starting point for us to work together to protect our environment and at the same time ensure the operational readiness of our navies.’
Click here to download a copy of the white paper.
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Source: Manifold Times
