GREEN SHIP TECHNOLOGY
Shipping decarbonisation fast-tracked WITH NEW REGULATIONS CONSTANTLY UPDATING AS THE SHIPPING INDUSTRY TRANSITIONS TO A LOW CARBON FUTURE, TUOMAS RISKI, CEO AT NORSEPOWER, HIGHLIGHTS HOW INNOVATIVE WIND PROPULSION SOLUTIONS MAKE A SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO DECARBONISING THE INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING INDUSTRY. WORDS BY TUOMAS RISKI, CEO AT NORSEPOWER. ALL PHOTOS COURTESY OF NORSEPOWER.
T
here is no doubt that shipowners and operators – as well as cargo owners and shippers – are all recognising the need to adapt and make shipping more environmentally-friendly as the pressure to adhere to existing and forthcoming environmental regulations intensifies. Shipping is heavily relying upon new, innovative ideas and concepts to achieve its decarbonisation goals. Wind as an additional power source to enable a reduction in fuel consumption and emissions is a natural next step for the
The two cylinders (35 x 5) are manufactured by Norsepower and are fitted to the SC Connector Ro-Ro vessel, which sails in a liner system in the North Sea; an area with favourable wind conditions, ideal for using rotor sail technology.
maritime transport industry as it seeks to remain cost-efficient and meet environmental regulations. It is one of the most freely available energy sources and 100% carbon neutral, making wind-assisted propulsion extremely viable.
Making compliance work commercially
Under the EEXI regulation, at the first annual survey after entry into force in 2023, ships are required to demonstrate compliance with EEXI standards. When
looking at meeting compliance and exploring technologies like Norsepower’s Rotor Sails, it is important to remember one factor – every tonne of fuel makes over three tonnes of CO2. The installation of a Rotor Sail means achieving fuel, fuel cost, and emissions savings of, for example, 10% would also improve a vessel’s EEXI rating by around 5 - 15%, depending on the actual case of each vessel. This EEXI improvement is a direct consequence of massive decreases in fuel consumption and costs – making investments in wind propulsion technologies sound, even when looked at on a simple financial basis. Not only does a retrofit or newbuild installation of the Rotor Sail support compliance with the new EEXI and CII rules, it also significantly decreases fuel consumption and costs. Investment in such clean technology that reduces fuel consumption also offers an opportunity to future proof vessels against inevitable fuel price increases as new fuels like ammonia and hydrogen enter the market, as well as against forthcoming CO2 emission taxes and/ or emissions trading. For example, a 10% fuel saving from a Rotor Sail can mean the difference between operating profitably or not, as new fuels enter the market and a cost for carbon emissions is implemented.
Tangible savings
The successful installations completed to date have built confidence in the value in utilising Rotor Sails – not only by cutting
>>
1 0 | S B I 2 0 2 1 | Volum e 15 | Issue 3
Norse power.indd 10
s h i p b u i l d i n g -i n d u s tr y. e u
17-06-2021 12:01
