In Singapore, FME—research center for environmentally friendly energy—and FME Maritime Energy Transition (MarTrans) is an 8-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 participating in the center. Norway has the world’s fifth-largest shipping fleet, its decarbonization of which can make a marked difference to 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 in business models, environmental impact, regulations and energy system integration.
Tags: marine energy, Norway, Singapore
Category: Research
