A maritime nation like Norway is almost forced to ask itself the question, “How can we make the maritime industry greener?” Sustainable shipping in Norway is indeed on the agenda.
The global shipping industry is under pressure to cut climate-altering greenhouse gases and find sustainable shipping solutions, and Norway wants to be frontrunner in developments of green technology and low-emission solutions.
Sustainable shipping in Norway
“We have a long and proud traditions in shipping and maritime industry in Norway. The maritime sector is currently among our most global, innovative and forward-looking industries. And the Norwegian maritime cluster is a significant international player on the global arena,” said state secretary Daniel Bjarman Simonsen at the Battery Forum’s conference Watts Up, March last year.
Related: A Green Revolution in the Norwegian Fjords
The Norwegian government has on several occasions reiterated how green solutions within shipping and the maritime industry are of high importance and its ambition that Norway should stand out in a crowd.
We must reduce emissions
Ships belch out nearly one billion tons of carbon dioxide a year, accounting for only 2-3 percent of global greenhouse gases. But they’re projected to grow between 50 to 250 percent by 2050 if no action is taken.
“Shipping has contributed significantly to increased world trade,” said Lasse Kristoffersen, CEO of shipowners Klaveness in a report, Maritime Outlook 2018. “Now we must reduce emissions and become more energy efficient. This is the greatest challenge of our time. And the one who finds the best solution, wins.”
Related: Norwegian Zero Emissions Ship Without a Crew
Infograph Source: A-1 Auto Transport
Several support schemes to finance new projects
The Norwegian Maritime Authority has been a key player in developing regulations for new technology. They do this in close collaboration with the industry and initiate processes for the development of global regulations.
Considering the intensive capital requirements of going “green”, the availability of governmental-supported funding will constitute an important contribution towards the maritime industry becoming a front-runner in this respect. In order to support the innovation and implementation of new operational measures and technology, the Norwegian Government has established support schemes to enhance the necessary financing of new projects.
Related: Norway’s Top Oil Company Will Provide New York With Renewable Energy
Slashing emissions by 50 percent by 2050
Transport’s contribution to earth-warming emissions were one of the topics in focus as negotiators in Katowice, Poland gathered for U.N. climate talks last month. However, shipping, like aviation, isn’t covered by the Paris agreement because of the difficulty to attribute their emissions to individual nations.
Therefore, the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the U.N.’s maritime agency, has reached an agreement to slash emissions by 50 percent by 2050.
Last December, Nel Hydrogen Electrolyser, a division of Nel ASA (Nel, OSE:NEL) was awarded a grant under the PILOT-E scheme for the development and realization of a green fertilizer project together with Yara International ASA (Yara, OSE:YARA). The ambition of the project is to realize zero-emission fertilizer production using innovative solutions and cost-efficient hydrogen production from electrolysis based on renewable energy.
By continuing to provide long term financial support to the maritime sector through several support schemes, the Norwegian Government adopts a collaborative approach seeking to enhance the development of new technology and operational changes so that the maritime industry in turn may become capable of achieving the goal of shipping sustainability.
Sustainable shipping in Norway, written by Tor Kjolberg