EMEA News
Cost/Benefit Trade Offs for EU Emission Monitoring Methods Considered
Possible methods used to monitor fuel consumption and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions in the European Union (EU) offer trade-offs between investment costs and benefits, according to a new report by European environmental organisation Transport & Environment.
The report considers ways the EU might implement plans announced last year to create a monitoring, reporting, and verification system for greenhouse gas emissions from shipping.
It finds that bunker delivery notes (BDN) and tank soundings involve the lowest investment costs, but, if they are not automated, they have higher operational costs and more opportunities for error.
In addition, the report says bunker delivery notes are the least helpful in terms of providing useful data for ship operators because bunkering may be several voyages apart.
In contrast, fuel flow meters have the highest potential accuracy, but they come with an equipment cost of $15,000 to $60,000 for ship owners and operators, although it was noted ships with modern fuel systems may already have the meters installed.
A last option, direct emissions measurements, requires an equipment investment of $100,000 but provides an advantage in being able to monitor additional types of emissions, such as nitrous oxides and particulate matter, while other methods only track CO2 and sulfur oxide (SOx).
The European Community Shipowners' Associations (ECSA) said earlier this year that it supports the use of BDN to monitor emissions because of the method's simplicity, cost-effectiveness, and protection of sensitive information.
