SINTEF Ocean joins GCMD as a knowledge partner, while GCMD joins the SINTEF Ocean-managed R&D program FME MarTrans.
Reducing energy consumption and replacing fossil with renewable fuels within the maritime sector is a large and global challenge. Governments, industries, and research organizations globally have been actively exploring green solutions. In order to further accelerate innovation and transition, collaboration across the globe is key.
“These important long-term commitments build on mutual goals, challenges, and a history of good collaboration between the maritime sectors in Norway and Singapore,” said Arne Fredheim, Research Director in SINTEF Ocean.
“The dialogue and exchange of knowledge with GCMD has been ongoing for some years already, and the match between the two organizations has proven so fruitful that we now want to strengthen the collaboration through joint projects,” Fredheim continues.
“We are excited to welcome SINTEF Ocean as a knowledge partner and work more closely with SINTEF Ocean,” added Dr. Sanjay Kuttan, Chief Strategy Officer in GCMD.
“Collaboration is crucial in addressing the energy transition, especially within the diverse maritime industry. The challenges ahead to achieve net zero are too significant for any single organization to tackle alone. As one of the overseas partners under the FME MarTrans, we are looking forward to refining problem statements and co-ideating projects to accelerate maritime decarbonization,” says Kuttan.
FME MarTrans is Launching in January
FME stands for research center for environmentally friendly energy, and FME Maritime Energy Transition (MarTrans) is an eight-year collaborative project with 65 partners from the maritime industry and research environment. With total funding from the Research Council of Norway and the industrial partners of over NOK 300 million, this will be one of the world’s largest maritime research programs when it kicks off in January 2025.
Norwegian shipowners are heavily involved, and a total of 18 shipping companies with around 450 ships in operation participate in the center. Norway has the world’s fifth-largest shipping fleet, and its decarbonization can make a marked difference in global emissions from the sector. In order to do so, FME MarTrans will focus on four main challenges:
- Environmentally friendly fuel will be expensive and scarce. Consequently, consumption must be drastically reduced through improved energy efficiency.
- In order to be able to use the new energy carriers in a safe and efficient way, the energy systems on board must be further developed.
- Making green fuels available requires the development of supply chains and new port infrastructure.
- A sustainable transition requires new technology to be supported with knowledge of business models, environmental impact, regulations, and energy system integration.
“We are really glad to have GCMD onboard as a full-worthy partner of FME MarTrans,” said Trond Vikan Johnsen, Centre Director in SINTEF Ocean.
“GCMD and MarTrans are addressing the same challenges with complementary perspectives and types of activities. Sharing of knowledge and coordination of actions will make both centers even more effective,” added Johnsen.
GCMD Helps Decarbonize the Maritime Sector Through Pilots and Trials
Since its establishment in 2021, GCMD has been supporting the decarbonization of the maritime industry through pilots and trials.
Recently, GCMD achieved a significant milestone by successfully conducting ammonia transfers that simulated bunkering operations in the Pilbara region in western Australia. This achievement will help prepare the ecosystem for using ammonia as a marine fuel when ammonia-fueled vessels become available.
GCMD is also exploring a series of pilots to scale the adoption of energy efficiency technologies (EETs) in shipping through Pay-As-You-Save (PAYS), a third-party performance-based financing model that shares risks and rewards with stakeholders already deployed in other sectors.
PAYS leverages transparent data sharing, allowing stakeholders to verify fuel savings and attribute them to specific technologies. Unlocking the link between performance and financing should spur the adoption of EETs and accelerate maritime decarbonization.
Beyond addressing adoption barriers for ammonia as a marine fuel and EETs, GCMD is also working on initiatives to unlock the carbon value chain and develop an assurance framework for drop-in green fuels.
