MERPOL

MERPOL studies the energy transition in shipping

Shipping still relies heavily on fossil fuels. However, stricter environmental regulation requires the industry to gradually move towards alternative energy sources. These include bio-oils and gases such as HVO (hydrotreated vegetable oil), FAME (fatty acid methyl ester) and liquefied biogas, and synthetic fuels such as synthetic ammonia, methane and methanol.

Biofuel feedstocks can include food crops, cellulose, waste or residues. Synthetic fuels can be made from hydrogen produced by electrolysis using electrical energy. In order to produce these so-called electrofuels without emissions, electricity must come from renewable energy sources.

Finland is well placed to deploy hydrogen-based solutions: a strong electricity grid, rapid expansion of wind power, a heavy industry producing carbon dioxide, a well-developed infrastructure and the potential to use an extensive district heating network as part of production processes.

Aiming to reduce emissions from shipping

Most of the emissions from marine fossil fuels are generated when the fuels are burned in the ship’s engine. In contrast, the greenhouse gas emissions of alternative fuels depend essentially on the production process.

Emissions from bio-based fuels are most affected by the feedstock, while emissions from e-fuels are affected by whether the hydrogen used as feedstock is produced from renewable energy.

When studying alternative fuels, it is therefore important to carry out life cycle analyses (LCAs) to calculate the emissions over the entire life cycle of the fuel.

Shipowners, for their part, need to take into account the total cost of ownership (TCO) of the fuel when making investment decisions. Life cycle costs include investment costs, such as investment in the engine, and operational costs, such as fuel costs and emissions allowances.