Page 131 - ΝΑΥΤΙΚΑ ΧΡΟΝΙΚΑ - ΜΑΙΟΣ 2023
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allow their widespread use beyond
            small vessels and short-sea shipping.
            As expected, there is competition
            among industrial sectors, especially
            those facing difficulties adopting the
            proposed solutions. In our case, bio-
            fuels are a potentially feasible and
            advantageous solution to mitigate
            the carbon footprint for shipping and
            aviation (both are “hard-to-abate” sec-
            tors). Considering both industries, and
            by comparing grams of CO₂ emitted
            per transport work unit will prioritise
            aviation.
            Financially wise, all proposed solutions
            become relatively competitive due to
            political decisions, national and inter-
            national regulations, and market-based
            measures that penalise fossil fuel use
            and GHG emissions or incentivise car-
            bon-free energy use. However, their
            substantial “extra cost” negatively
            impacts production and the supply
            chain, and can potentially lead to eco-
            nomic recession. In addition, tangible
            results based on facts and figures are
            required for the civic society to be con-
            vinced by the narratives of the Green
            Deal and Green Growth.
            Consequently, shipping’s deep decar-
            bonisation now requires that the
            global shipping community reviews and
            rationalises its priorities and objectives
            and focuses its efforts on facilitating
            the effective implementation of solu-
            tions, taking into account the limita-
            tions arising from the shipping sector’s
            characteristics and its comparatively
            small contribution to greenhouse gas
            emissions (less than 3% on a global  tainable future through an equitable and
            scale). Otherwise, we will continue to  integrated approach to mitigation and
            see extreme paradoxes like ships paying   adaptation efforts at all scales.
            carbon taxes to transport coal (one end
            of the paradox) and electric cars, solar   Regarding our contribution, the CMMI
            panels, and wind turbine blades (the   team is conducting research aiming to:
            other end).                            •  Develop solutions for vessel per-
            The scientific community continuously    formance optimisation (including
            monitors the global warming phenome-     digital twinning).
            non, measuring the average global tem-  •  Design and build small zero-emis-
            perature and recording the effects of    sions vessels.
            the climate crisis on human and natural   •  Combine shore-side electric-
            systems while observing and highlight-   ity applications with alternative
            ing their capacity, vulnerabilities, and   fuels.
            limitations to adapt to climate change.   •  Develop carbon capture technol-
            In parallel, research teams worldwide    ogies, synthetic fuels, and waste
            are looking at options for creating a sus-  heat recovery systems.


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