How This Surprising Tech Could Clean Up Global Shipping | Momentum

Hyundai Heavy Industries: Methanol-Powered Ships

• The global economy relies heavily on shipping, with over 80% of world trade being transported by sea, but it also comes with a significant environmental cost, emitting over a billion tons of CO2 in 2018 alone (40s).
• The International Maritime Organization is set to create the world's first global carbon tax and is pushing the industry to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, with Asia playing a critical role in this transition (1m52s).
• To reach net-zero emissions, the industry must transition away from oil-based fuels, which currently power over 93% of the world's fleet, and towards cleaner, sustainable alternatives (2m14s).
• Hyundai Heavy Industries in South Korea is at the forefront of this transition, having built the world's largest methanol-powered container ship and working on dozens more for clients such as Maersk (3m4s).

Alternative Fuels: Methanol, Ammonia, and LNG

• Methanol is considered a promising alternative fuel, offering a 25% reduction in carbon emissions, but it is currently expensive and has a limited supply chain (3m28s).
• Other alternative fuels being explored include ammonia, which is highly toxic, and liquified natural gas (LNG), which is controversial due to its fossil fuel origins and potential for methane leaks (4m16s).
• There is currently no clear frontrunner among the alternative fuels, with each having its pros and cons, and the industry is still in the process of developing and testing these new fuels (5m8s).
• Ammonia is still in its initial stages, with the main engine for ammonia-fuel burning currently under development (5m22s).
• LNG is a costly alternative fuel, but it has a well-established infrastructure worldwide, making it easier for ships to bunker, (5m35s).
• Despite being a fossil fuel, LNG is considered an alternative fuel due to its existing infrastructure and supply chain, (6m4s).
• Methanol and ammonia face scalability issues, requiring significant investment in infrastructure and time to increase production, (6m46s).

Net Zero Emissions and Fuel Mix Strategy

• A more realistic strategy to achieve net zero emissions is for ships to switch to a mix of fuels, according to Jeon, (7m6s).
• The International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, but this goal is challenging, (7m16s).

Clean Fuel vs. Cleaner Fuel and Shipbuilding Technology

• Clean fuel and cleaner fuel are distinct concepts, with clean fuel referring to fuels with no carbon content, (7m31s).
• Advances in shipbuilding technology, such as Hyundai's special engine for methanol-powered ships, are necessary for a carbon-neutral future, (7m59s).
• Methanol is corrosive, requiring adapted engine designs and fuel tanks to prevent corrosion, (8m10s).

Cost of Alternative Fuels and Biofouling

• The adoption of alternative fuels will be costly, with an estimated extra $8 to $28 billion needed annually to make ships greener by 2050, (8m50s).
• Biofouling, the growth of organisms on ship hulls, increases drag and carbon emissions, with a 30% increase possible if half the hull is covered, (9m43s).

Neptune Robotics: Underwater Hull Cleaning

• Neptune Robotics has developed an underwater robot that cleans hulls, reducing biofouling and carbon emissions, (9m55s).
• Neptune's robots are designed to work in extreme environments, 24/7, and can counter strong currents, making them suitable for large vessels, (10m29s).
• Neptune Robotics' technology allows its robots to operate in ports with low water visibility, providing a solution where divers and other robots cannot, and has successfully delivered 4K videos and photos in zero-visibility waters after over 200 sea trials (11m32s).
• Hull cleaning is essential for saving fuel costs, regardless of the type of fuel used, and Neptune's robots can save up to 18% of fuel consumption worldwide for any vessel (11m54s).
• Neptune's robots have cleaned over 1,000 vessels, helping prevent up to 5 million tons of CO2 emissions, and use a magnetic and vibration-based system to remove biofouling, making it suitable for use with anti-fouling coatings (12m2s).
• The company's technology also addresses concerns about toxic chemicals in anti-fouling coatings, such as copper and arsenic, which can leach into the ocean, by developing a cleaning method that does not release these paints (12m36s).
• Neptune's cleaning method, called cavitational water jet cleaning, uses cavitation bubbles to create a shockwave that vibrates off biofouling, avoiding the use of mechanical forces that can scratch away the paint (13m3s).
• The company's robots are currently semi-autonomous but are expected to become completely autonomous in the future, allowing for fully automated operation from deployment to reporting (13m49s).
• Neptune plans to expand to more ports, which will create more flexibility and convenience for clients, and expects to have 100 robots in two to three years, taking advantage of economies of scale (14m27s).
• The company's vision is driven by the rewarding experience of delivering fuel savings and emission reductions to clients, and its goal is to make a significant impact on the shipping industry (15m5s).

Silverstream: Air Lubrication Technology

• In five years, the shipping industry is expected to prioritize emissions efficiency, with every decision made to reduce additional emissions (15m17s).
• Silverstream, a London-based company, has developed a technology to improve fuel efficiency by using microbubbles to reduce friction, resulting in a 5% to 10% fuel savings for shipowners (16m55s).
• The technology, known as air lubrication, involves blowing microbubbles under the hull of a commercial ship, creating a "magic carpet" that allows the ship to glide more easily through the water (16m44s).
• Microbubbles are defined by their small size and high surface tension, which prevents them from becoming larger and more buoyant, making them effective for this application (17m17s).
• The idea for air lubrication technology was born out of the founder's interest in the sea and experience competing in regattas and windsurfing, and it took 10 years to develop and commercialize (18m4s).
• Convincing shipowners to adopt the technology was challenging, but the potential for significant fuel cost savings, estimated to be $5 billion, has helped to gain traction (19m14s).
• The technology is not only cost-effective but also helps with regulation and emission savings, making it an attractive solution for the shipping industry (19m9s).
• Silverstream has installed its technology on several vessels, including one owned by Chevron, and has 200 systems on order (20m11s).
• The company has produced nearly 100 systems, which is a relatively small number considering there are over 100,000 vessels of similar size at sea (20m15s).
• The company works with major shipping clients, such as Chevron, to discuss their decarbonization strategies for their ships (20m32s).
• The company's system was installed on a Chevron ship in under two and a half weeks, and will take another week to commission, after which performance trials will be conducted (20m40s).
• To get other big shipping companies on board, collaboration and deep involvement are necessary to understand their portfolio of ships and tailor the system to suit their needs (21m0s).
• Silverstream's goal is to install the system in 500 ships by 2025 (21m24s).
• The company is also working on integrating their technology into ships' main engines and propulsion systems to boost fuel efficiency even more (21m32s).

The Future of Green Shipping

• The shipping industry is at a critical juncture where innovation is no longer an option, but a moral imperative to achieve zero emissions by mid-century (21m58s).
• Achieving zero emissions will require many more innovations like these, which are the result of collaboration and commitment from scientists and businesses working together (22m41s).