Bjørn Kjærand Haugland, CEO of Skift, is impressed by the commitment to research, innovation, and collaboration to achieve climate goals in the maritime industry after attending the launch of the LNGameChanger project in Ålesund on Wednesday.
Skift is a Norwegian business-led climate initiative that brings together the most climate-ambitious companies in Norway to highlight the opportunities of a zero-emissions society and the tools needed to get there.
When HAV Group, SINTEF, and Havila Voyages launched the LNGameChanger research project on board Havila Capella in Ålesund on Wednesday, Skift's CEO Bjørn Kjærand Haugland was present.
“LNGameChanger is a great example of how collaboration and innovation can drive forward solutions that both cut emissions and build on existing infrastructure. This is what climate leadership looks like,” says Haugland after the launch.
“Most of the world’s existing ships today run on heavy fuel oil and diesel, but we’re seeing an increase in ships powered by LNG.”
Haugland notes that LNG (liquefied natural gas) has long been seen as a transitional solution for reducing emissions in shipping. That may now change.
“This project gives us the opportunity to sail almost emission-free with LNG vessels, and I am certain the number of LNG ships in the global fleet will only grow. Many LNG ships are already on order, and that number will increase with LNGameChanger,” he says.
“If we succeed with this, we will have effectively solved a large part of the zero-emissions challenge for shipping and taken a quantum leap. Then LNG with carbon capture becomes a near-zero-emission solution, and that’s a project we at Skift wholeheartedly support.”
An example of action
LNGameChanger is a Norwegian project involving research institutions and the country’s maritime cluster.
“In general, we’re better at talking than doing, but this project is a clear example of action and collaboration. The project participants are complementary and show how cooperation leads to results,” says Haugland.
“No one can do everything, but everyone can do something. It’s inspiring to see HAV Group, SINTEF, Molgas Energy, and Havila Voyages coming together to act.”
Havila Voyages
Turning words into action also describes the Norwegian-owned shipping company from Fosnavåg, Havila Voyages, according to Haugland.
“What Havila Voyages has already demonstrated with their ships is that action works, and that action is the way forward. The fact that the company is now also preparing its ships as a test platform for new technology should serve as inspiration to others,” he says.
“Looking at the big picture in Norwegian maritime history, Norwegian knowledge environments have driven technology and concept development for decades. Now we can harness the power of Norwegian maritime expertise to develop the solutions shipping needs to become emission-free.”
A win-win
At Havila Voyages, there was no doubt they wanted to be part of the LNGameChanger project when it was presented by partner HAV Group.
“Achieving low and zero emissions is a clear ambition for Havila Voyages. It’s something we strongly believe in, rooted in our founder Per Sævik’s deep commitment to preserving the nature we sail through for future generations,” says CEO Bent Martini.
“We have no time to lose if we’re to reach our climate goals, and it was obvious to us that LNGameChanger is something we should be a part of. If we can capture carbon on board our LNG-powered ships and thereby become zero-emission using today's fuel, it would be a fantastic opportunity for us.”
Martini points out that LNG infrastructure is already well developed in Norway, and that it is an easily accessible fuel.
“Other solutions have also been considered, and neither biogas nor hydrogen are off the table because of this. At the same time, we have to look at all the alternatives. Based on price, the energy required to develop alternative fuels like hydrogen, and their availability, LNGameChanger represents a groundbreaking solution for achieving our climate ambitions.”
“In addition, it is a Norwegian initiative with the potential to create added value for Norwegian stakeholders and business, which in turn contributes to more jobs in the maritime cluster. That, in itself, is sustainability in practice. If we succeed with LNGameChanger, it will be a win-win at every level of the value chain,” Martini concludes.
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