Special Feature : Decarbonization Promotion Project
Project “MaTIS” Commences
Last time, in Issue 19 of MEET News, we announced that the Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group had launched a joint project that integrates the state-of-the-art marine engineering technologies of Mitsubishi Shipbuilding (MHI-MSB) and the marine machinery technologies nurtured over the years by MHI Marine Machinery & Equipment (MHI-MME). The objective is to create and provide new solutions toward decarbonization of the maritime industry.
The joint project was named “MaTIS,” an acronym that stands for “Marine Technology, Integration & Solutions.” The project will involve activities for providing added value that will indeed be “integration and solutions.” MaTIS activities will include joint development and joint marketing. Through such activities and projects, MaTIS will contribute to promote and to make deep dive into decarbonization of global shipping through collaboration with other MHI Group green energy businesses and CO2 reduction technologies and products.
Partnering with the Maersk’s Research Center for Zero Carbon Shipping
As one of the MaTIS activities, last year, we became a founding partner of the Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, which carries out studies and research for the promotion of decarbonization of the maritime industry. In this issue, we will introduce some of the projects that we are involved in with the Center.
Ammonia Ship Safety Project
This is a project to develop guidelines for the safe use of ammonia (NH3) as a maritime fuel. The project aims, through collaboration with the Lloyd’s Register Group, for decarbonization of the maritime industry through the safe use of ammonia, for which there are great expectations as a long-term solution for maritime use. In addition to the MHI Group, other participants in this project include A.P. Møller-Maersk, MAN Energy Solutions, NYK Line, and Total S.A..
Green ammonia can be produced using green hydrogen (made from water electrolysis powered by renewable sources) and nitrogen. While it is a zero-carbon fuel, it is also extremely toxic as a fuel. That is why it is critical that guidelines for the use of ammonia as a safe, sustainable fuel are formulated after evaluating its risks for both people and the environment.
The maritime industry accounts for roughly 2.5% of the world’s CO2 emission amounts. As decarbonization efforts progress in other industries, there is a strong likelihood that the proportion of the maritime industry’s CO2 emissions will increase over the next few decades.
By utilizing the knowledge that we have accumulated through the MHI Group’s experience in ammonia carriers and ammonia production plants, sharing knowledge with project partners, and combining it with efforts toward the resolution of issues, the MHI Group hopes to help accelerate the speed with which the safe use of ammonia as an alternative maritime fuel can be introduced. We will contribute to the further development of the maritime shipping industry as well as the reduction of its environmental footprint, which is a global issue.
Fuel Conversion Optionality Study Project
This is a project for assessing the technical, financial, and environmental potential of converting existing vessels to zero carbon fuels. Other organizations participating in this study in addition to the MHI Group are A.P. Møller-Maersk, the American Bureau of Shipping, MAN Energy Solutions, NYK Line, Seaspan Corporation, Mitsui & Co., and Total S.A. Clarifying the roadmap to convert existing vessels fueled by fossil fuels to zero carbon fuels and bringing the challenges to the surface can lead to the reduction of vessel investment risks.
In addition to making technical reviews of the safety aspects related to decarbonization retrofits into ammonia, methanol and other next-generation fuel vessels or to the application of onboard carbon capture and storage, the project will also carry out financial evaluations, including conversion, technological investments, and fuel costs in addition to associated operating costs. There will also be environmental assessment that will cover the GHG reduction potential over the vessel lifecycle.
The MHI Group will leverage the technologies and expertise related to vessels, marine engines and marine machinery, which it has accumulated over the years. Through efforts made in collaboration with other partner companies to overcome issues, we will speed up the development of the fuel-supply and exhaust gas treatment systems that are needed for using alternate fuels.
By providing maritime solutions to the market, we will commit ourselves to the achievement of decarbonization of shipping and contribute to environmental load reduction on a global scale.