What’s in the Cabinet

The 2022 CEF Transport Call

A total of €5.12 billion has been made available under the newest Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) call for proposals. The single-stage deadline is set for 18 January 2023. The envelope includes €1.62b (general) and €2.0b (cohesion) for TEN-T Core Network projects, €250 & €350m for projects on the TEN-T Comprehensive Network, €400m and €150m for smart and interoperable mobility, €1.2b and €375m for alternative fuels infrastructure, €100m for sustainable and multimodal mobility, €100m and €150m for safe and secure mobility, and €330m for adopting the TEN-T to civilian-defence dual use (the MilMob call, launched on 12 May 2022, has received 63 projects requesting over €1.3b; their evaluation process is expected to be concluded by the end-December 2022).

EMSA reports on alternative fuels

The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has updated its report on the potential of biofuels in shipping and released its analysis of ammonia as marine fuel. These reports aim to support the European Commission in the ongoing work on the Fit for 55 package, particularly on the FuelEU Maritime proposal. “As a ‘drop-in’ fuel which could replace conventional fossil fuels without substantial engine modification, biofuels can offer an immediate alternative for the existing fleet. The report finds that many of the existing maritime regulations can be transferred from fossil fuels to biofuels, and the safety risks are broadly similar. However, the research notes that the future availability of sustainable biofuels may be in question, given the size of any potential demand from the maritime sector,” says EMSA. On the latter, the organisation commented, “Based on the growing interest for ammonia-fuelled vessels and in projects to produce green ammonia, the report concludes that ammonia is likely to transition to a marine fuel which could enter the market quickly and offer a zero or near-zero carbon solution. However, despite the maritime sector’s extensive experience in handling ammonia as cargo, there is currently little accumulated industry knowledge in its use as a fuel, indicating a need for further understanding of the potential safety-related risks and other challenges it poses. In addition, the study has identified a number of barriers to the widespread deployment of ammonia, including access to renewable electricity for its green production, and technology and regulatory gaps which could prevent its immediate application.” Maja Markovčić Kostelac, EMSA’s Executive Director, summed up, “The reports [...] are just a first step in our research into the potential of different alternative fuels and power solutions, and form part of the support we provide at this critical moment in the maritime sector’s voyage towards decarbonisation. Throughout our work, we keep the safety aspect of alternative fuels firmly in our focus, as the transition to true maritime sustainability can never be complete without the safety dimension.”

Pre-combustion carbon capture

The American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) has issued a new technology qualification for a pre-combustion carbon capture system (based on the thermocatalytic decomposition, TDC, process) developed by the Norway-based hydrogen company Rotoboost. The company’s TCD allows for continuous hydrogen production and carbon capture onboard marine vessels by converting natural gas into hydrogen and solid carbon with a liquid catalyst. The resulting gas can be used for fuel cells or as a blend-in fuel for combustion engines or gas-fired boilers. The process can reduce overall carbon emissions by up to 100%, depending on the heating method. In addition, the two say, using hydrogen as a blend-in fuel promises to significantly reduce the methane slip Photo: Rotoboost from combustion engines and reduce particulate matter emissions by capturing carbon in solid form before combustion. “Decomposing methane into hydrogen and solid carbon is an intelligent way to implement a carbon capture and storage solution onboard gas-fuelled ships. This method reduces the storage need onboard, and the solid carbon can be used in the production of fuel cells and batteries and can be recycled again and again. This technology is one that promises to accelerate the energy transition, supporting global decarbonization goals,” Georgios Plevrakis, VP of Global Sustainability, ABS, highlighted. Kaisa Nikulainen, Rotoboost’s CEO, added, “The system can be scaled up modularly step-by-step to meet progressing emission regulations while being cost-effective for shipowners compared to green fuels or conventional carbon capture systems.”

The Green Shipping Challenge

Responding to the Green Shipping Challenge formulated by Norway and the US in May 2022, several Norwegian organisations from across shipping, business, class, and finance have teamed up to make the maritime sector zero-emission. Participants in the Norwegian collaboration will strive towards halving shipping’s footprint by 2030, in line with Norway’s climate goals. Alongside efforts to improve existing vessels’ energy efficiency, the partners undertake to develop, design and build future eco-friendly ships. According to them, achieving the 2030 national climate target will require 700 low- and 400 zero-emission ships in Norway alone. The partnership involves GCE Blue Maritime, NCE Maritime CleanTech, the Confederation of Norwegian Enterprise, the Federation of Norwegian Industries, the Norwegian Shipowners Association, Norwegian Coastal Shipowners, Maritimt Forum, Havila Voyages, Hurtigruten, Kongsberg, and DNV. Norwegian financial partners with maritime patronage will utilise capital instruments to support green measures and projects by providing risk capital and financial advisory services in line with regulatory requirements and expectations. “Norwegian government support for green initiatives and infrastructure development for fossil-free energy sources will also play a key role,” the parties have said in a press release.