RFNBOs to play greatest role in decarbonising maritime freight: DUKFT
A report from the Decarbonising UK Freight Transport (DUKFT) has revealed that Renewable Fuels of Non-Biological Origin (RFNBOs) have the greatest role in decarbonising maritime freight.
PHOTO: Container ship sailing at sea. Getty Images
DUKFT is a network of 40 academic and industrial stakeholders funded by the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
The newly released report titled – 'Accelerating Investment for Decarbonising UK Freight Transport' – found that RFNBOs, which includes hydrogen and hydrogen-derived fuels such as ammonia and methanol have the “greatest role in decarbonising domestic and international maritime freight.”
The report highlighted the need for investments in port infrastructure and supply chain of RFNBOs rather than on the vessels. It noted that there have been limited public investments so far, while private sector investments have been mostly driven by larger players.
“In the private sector, investment has surfaced for hydrogen-derived fuels and onboard technologies, however, this has remained within larger players in the shipping sector and large cargo owners and there is limited investment specifically for freight decarbonisation,” the report said.
According to DUKFT, LNG and biofuels are currently commercially available but “their scalability and overall emission reduction potential do not offer a pathway to zero emissions.”
For this reason, it recommends RFNBO, citing evidence that suggests that the fuel type will play a key role in decarbonising shipping along with the provision of shore power in ports.
The report also highlighted the uncertainty surrounding RFNBO fuel bunkering for stakeholders with less influence on the fuel of choice at ports. These stakeholders need assurance on ammonia and methanol bunkering to justify onboard spending and to avoid the “heightened risk of stranded assets”.
It also recommended introduction of subsidies and incentives to boost the uptake of alternative fuels.
By Manjula Nair
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