World's first ammonia-fueled cargo ship on the way to emit almost no CO2
The Yara Eyde, the world's first cargo ship to emit virtually no carbon dioxide, will set sail in 2026 and will be fueled primarily by clean ammonia, according to fertilizer producer Yara International.
Svein Tore Holsether, president and CEO of Yara International, said he hoped the cargo ship would demonstrate what was 'possible' for the shipping industry on the road to decarbonization, and that it would emit more than 95 percent less carbon dioxide than the average fossil-fuel-powered vessel.
Holsether noted that it is time to change the commitment to decarbonize by 2040 and 2050, and that the technology we have now will be proven to work.
According to the International Maritime Organization, shipping accounts for nearly 3 percent of annual global emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
Yara International, one of the world's largest fertilizer manufacturers, and its subsidiary Yara Clean Ammonia, plus Norwegian container ship operator North Sea Container Line, are reportedly building the ammonia-powered vessel.
The Yara Eyde is scheduled to operate between Norway and Germany on what will be the first zero-emission sea route to the European continent. The ship's design is optimized for the trade corridor between Norway and Europe, which connects Oslo, Brevik, the Port of Hamburg and Bremerhaven.
In general, the production of ammonia usually involves the extensive use of fossil fuels, such as coal and natural gas, and emits large amounts of carbon dioxide. The production of each metric ton of ammonia releases almost twice as much CO2 as the production of crude steel and four times as much as the production of cement.
However, Yara Clean Ammonia's Blue Ammonia production process captures and stores CO2 emissions, and Green Ammonia, which is prepared from renewable energy sources throughout, can be truly sustainable and carbon-free throughout, with huge future prospects.
Holsether said earlier that the world is facing a climate crisis and all forces must come together to rapidly reduce emissions. We are delighted to have worked across sectors to demonstrate that it is possible to meet our emissions reduction targets. We will now continue our green journey aboard the Yara Eyde, which will be the world's first cargo ship to use ammonia as a single power source.
In fact, this is not the first attempt by companies in the shipping industry. 2021 saw Maersk, one of the world's largest shipping companies, announce plans to purchase several carbon-neutral cargo ships using e-methanol or sustainable bio-methanol. Last August, the company said it would launch its first carbon-neutral cargo ship by the first quarter of 2024.
In July, the shipping industry pledged to reduce its emissions to net zero by around 2050, meaning removing at least as many pollutants from the atmosphere as it emits. But in the face of the escalating climate crisis, some climate experts have criticized the pledge as grossly inadequate.
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