ETI Suggests 30% Bunker Consumption Reduction through Innovative Tech

ETI says innovative technologies can provide a 30 percent reduction in fleet fuel consumption.

The Energy Technologies Institute LLP (ETI), in a new report that examines affordable measures and technologies for reducing bunker consumption and associated carbon emissions in shipping, says innovative technologies can provide a 30 percent reduction in fleet fuel consumption.

"Unlike the power and heat sectors and other forms of transport there does not seem to be a credible alternative to fossil fuels to power vessels, so in the medium to long term, the best potential to achieve substantial CO2 reductions is by reducing fuel consumption," said Stuart Bradley, Strategy Manager at ETI.

ETI says that the introduction of new technology is difficult, costly, and risky, and as such, investors and stakeholders need to be shown the potential for emissions reductions and improvements in fuel consumption from such technologies.

ETI's new report, "HDV Marine Insights," analyses the UK shipping fleet to demonstrate potential opportunities for ship owners and operators, identifying the most promising technologies capable of reducing fuel consumption economically.

"Our work to date has shown that using innovative technologies could reduce fuel consumption by up to 30 percent with an economic payback period of around two years but the technology needs to be demonstrated to give confidence to stakeholders and overcome market barriers," said Bradley.

"This is why we are working towards demonstrating advancements in flettner rotors, high efficiency propulsion systems and waste heat recovery systems and further details on these individual projects will be announced shortly."

ETI notes that it will be pursuing a series of at sea trials over the next three years to demonstrate the viability of various new technologies.

Earlier this month, another study, commissioned by DG Climate Action and completed by CE Delft, Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, Fraunhofer ISI, and Chalmers University of Technology, suggested wind technologies, including Flettner rotors, wingsails, and towing kites, can have "significant" potential for power savings in commercial marine applications.