Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) has begun a new initiative with the Maersk Mc-Kinney Møller Center to evaluate the practical, economical, and environmental considerations involved in converting current ships to operate on zero-carbon energy. The project intends to decrease investment risk in the carbon reduction transition by developing a plan for turning current ships into carbon-neutral vessels.
A technical examination of the safety implications of transforming bulkers, tankers, and box ships to function on urea, methanol, and other alternative fuels will be part of the project. MHI will also investigate the costs involved, such as power conversion costs, technical expenditures, gasoline prices, and related transportation costs.
It is the shipbuilder’s second declaration about decarbonization in several weeks. Simultaneously, an environmental evaluation will be done to evaluate the advantages of lowering greenhouse gas (GHG) production during the lifespan of the older ships.
MHI confirmed its involvement in research on standards for the sustainable use of ammonia as a fuel source last month in collaboration with L.R. This project is said to be the earliest commercial gas turbine to use ammonia as the only fuel in a setup of this size.
In addition, MHI company Mitsubishi Power is currently developing a 40-megawatt turbine plant that can work on purified ammonia, demonstrating the cross-sector need for renewable energy supplies. MHI merged with Mitsubishi Power earlier this year in order to use both companies’ assets for the decarbonization effort.