Renewable fuels can drastically reduce climate emissions from shipping and aviation

Photo: Unsplash/van Veen JF

Alternative maritime and aviation fuels can play a key role in reducing climate emissions from the transport sector. This is shown by a study where researchers from IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute and Chalmers University of Technology investigated future fuel choices and which can most effectively reduce climate emissions.

The analysis shows that it is possible to drastically reduce climate emissions in shipping and aviation by 2050, but it is necessary that the introduction of alternative fuels accelerates.

"I'm hopeful about solutions, but it will take a lot. We need to increase the pace of the use of renewable fuels also in shipping and aviation. Energy efficiency is also needed and that we are reviewing our use of energy and transport. We need to get started now, with more power than ever before," says Julia Hansson, researcher at IVL.

Electrification appears to be cost-effective for both road passenger and freight transport in the Scandinavian countries. Biofuels are needed in the short term for all road transport, but in the longer term especially in shipping and aviation.

All scenario cases show that bio-based fuels together with other alternatives are cost-effective measures to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in the Nordic maritime and aviation sector.

"A combination of fuel selection will be needed, with partially different options for different segments. For coastal shipping with short distances, battery-electric propulsion is efficient. But if those ferries need to go very fast and hydrogen or methanol may be needed. In long-distance shipping or flights, electric power alone becomes problematic. There, liquid fuels such as biofuels and electro-fuels, hydrogen or perhaps ammonia are more interesting," says Julia Hansson.

Electro-fuels, i.e. fuels of electricity, water and carbon dioxide or nitrogen, may also play an important role.

"Further investigations are needed from a cost perspective. Hydrogen and ammonia also need to be investigated more in line with developments around engines, performance and what will be most efficient in each segment," says Julia Hansson.

The results have been developed in a project with funding from the Swedish Energy Agency and f3 – The Swedish Knowledge Centre for Renewable Fuels within the framework of the collaboration programme Renewable Fuels and Systems.

Want me in your inbox? Follow here for email updates Air101 here.