(NEWS) Expert Workshop on Energy and Shipping Held at WMU

March

2020

Expert Workshop on Energy and Shipping Held at WMU

Maritime experts from the government sector, industry, civil society and academia gathered at the World Maritime University (WMU) in Malmö, Sweden from 26-27 February to discuss energy use in shipping. The workshop entitled “Prospects for energy and maritime transport in the Nordic region” was organized by the International Transport Forum (ITF), WMU and Nordic Energy Research (NER).

The workshop examined different options available to policymakers and industry for decarbonizing the shipping sector. Participants discussed how to capitalize on the Nordic region’s leadership in sustainable shipping while analyzing which technology options are available and technically feasible. In particular, the discussion explored the status of new technology adoption, looking at existing pilot/demonstration projects on low- and zero-emission enabling technologies used on ships. Recent updates on the performance of these technologies were also presented. Special focus was given to the circumstances in which these technologies could enable zero-emission shipping taking into account their cost profile, their impact based on vessel type and mission profile, and how a given technology could evolve under different scenarios.

The workshop also offered an opportunity to review stated International and Nordic government plans for future developments/policies aiming to influence the development of technologies for the maritime sector, and assessed the implications of different policy choices that might allow different technologies to succeed.

Presentations from the workshop are available through the Nordic Energy Research website. The ITF and Nordic Energy Research will publish a summary of the conclusions from the workshop and, at a later stage, a Nordic Energy and Maritime Transport Outlook (NEMO), incorporating input from discussions during this event. The NEMO report will look primarily at technology and policy developments that can be implemented by 2030. The report will feed into ITF’s Decarbonising Transport (DT) project and inform the development and direction of the Nordic Research Programme on Maritime Transport and Energy of the NER.

Hosting the workshop supports WMU’s commitment to the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, in particular Goal 7 focused on affordable and clean energy and Goal 13 focused on climate action. Through cutting-edge education and research in the Maritime Energy Management (MEM) field, WMU works to support the achievement of sustainable, low-carbon and energy-efficient maritime and ocean industries. WMU’s MEM educational offerings include the groundbreaking MEM MSc specialization that was introduced in 2015, and a recently launched Postgraduate Diploma in Maritime Energy delivered by distance learning. WMU’s Maritime Energy Management Research Priority Area focuses on the fundamental understanding of energy in a maritime context and the application of evidence-based knowledge across the field from ships to ports, and from oceans to shipyards, to ensure the cost-effective, safe and environmentally friendly use of resources. The book Trends and Challenges in Maritime Energy Management, was published in 2018 as an outcome of the International Conference on Maritime Energy Management (MARENER 2017) hosted at WMU the previous year. It was one of the most downloaded books in its category in 2018.

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