A new research effort, which is focusing on combining
emerging technologies to promote low-carbon shipping, will test its
technologies on in-service vessels. The project, which is named CHEK
(deCarbonizing sHipping by Enabling Key technology symbiosis on real vessel
concept designs), is receiving funding from the EU Horizon 2020 program to
accelerate innovation with tests of a sail on a dry bulk carrier as well as a
hydrogen-powered ship engine on a cruise ship.
“No current or emerging ‘silver bullet’ technology alone
will be able to reduce CO2 emissions from maritime transport in accordance with
the IMO's ambitious 2050 goals,” says CHEK project coordinator, Doctor Suvi
Karirinne, who heads VEBIC, University of Vaasa's energy and sustainability
research platform. “The shipping of the future must combine emerging
technologies into a systemically symbiotic entity.”
The CHEK project aims to reduce shipping emissions by
bringing low-carbon energy forms and various technologies such as hydrogen,
wind power, electric batteries, heat recovery, air lubrication, and new
anti-fouling technology to vessels, as well as developing the way vessels are
designed and operated. The project aims to create a symbiosis of new innovative
technologies that can reduce 99 percent of greenhouse gas emissions, achieve
energy savings of up to 50 percent, and reduce black carbon emissions by more
than 95 percent.
Novel technologies will not just be stacked onto vessels,
but the project will also develop the Future-Proof Vessel (FPV) Design Platform
for the design of future low-carbon and energy-efficient ships. This new type
of platform will provide the means to combine new technologies as favorably as
possible so that they work in symbiosis with each other. At the same time, the
design platform will also consider the different uses of vessels.
The project will apply its research to tests on current
vessels. A Cargill bulk carrier will be fitted with the wing sail technology
under development by the UK’s Bar Technologies. Building on the partnership
between BAR and Cargill, they will develop a solid wing sail array for the
Kamsarmax vessel. According to BAR, the vessel will also feature automated,
optimized vessel routing, waste heat recovery, hull form optimization, and a
gate rudder. By designing the overall layout to optimize the benefits from the
combination of technologies used, the efficiency savings will be maximized.
“Wind propulsion will be a cornerstone of low carbon
shipping in the future, with the versatility to deliver efficiency savings
regardless of the powertrain used,” said John Cooper, CEO of BAR Technologies.
“However, it is most effective as part of a wider suite of decarbonization
technology, and especially when designed into the vessel platform from the
beginning. We’re excited to be a part of bringing this market first vessel to
fruition to help the shipping industry tackle its crucial emissions challenge.”
The second test will be aboard one of MSC Cruises’
Meravigila class cruise ships, which will be equipped with a hydrogen-powered
ship engine to be designed in the project. “Researchers in energy technology at
the University of Vaasa will participate in the development of the
hydrogen-powered ship engine and its fuel system,” says Seppo Niemi, Professor
of Energy Technology at the University of Vaasa. “The intention is to build a
full-scale hydrogen engine prototype, which will be tested in Vaasa. The fuel system to be developed will also
enable the use of hydrogen in VEBIC's combustion engine laboratory. The system
will be designed so that it also serves fuel cells if necessary and allows the
use of other gases.”
Using the new vessel design methods developed by CHEK, the
goal is to apply the results of the two test vessels to other vessel types,
including tankers, container ships, general cargo ships, and ferries. The
project will also undertake to prepare future scenarios and an analysis of
factors affecting the development potential of low-carbon shipping, such as
current infrastructure.
Set to start in June 2021, project CHEK will run for 36
months. It involves the University of Vaasa, World Maritime University,
Wärtsilä, Cargill, MSC Cruises, Lloyds Register, Silverstream Technologies,
Hasytec, Deltamarin, Climeon, and BAR Technologies.