German government pushes energy transition at sea
Germany’s economy ministry (BMWi), together with industry associations VSM and VDMA, has started an initiative intended to implement energy transition in maritime traffic, news agency Reuters reports. At the 10th National Maritime Conference in Hamburg, the initiators said emissions in the shipping industry will be lowered by employing more efficient diesel engines as well as efficient hybrid and gas engines. Energy supply in German harbours would be covered by renewable sources, while energy demand was going to be optimised via better digital connection between shipping companies and cargo logistics providers, Reuters writes.
In a separate press release, engineering federation VDMA said ship engine producers viewed liquefied natural gas as a long-term surrogate for heavy oil. CO2-neutrality could be achieved by 2050 by gradually introducing electricity-based synthetic fuels produced with renewable energy sources, it added.
Read the article in German here.
Find the press release in German here.