ABS decarbonisation outlook focuses on hydrogen and carbon value chains

The fourth edition of the ABS Setting the Course to Low Carbon Shipping series was launched at Posidonia 2022 on Tuesday focusing on the opportunities for the industry in the transformation of the energy system.

In a speech at the launch Georgios Plevrakis, ABS Vice President, Global Sustainability, said: “In the Outlook we are trying to explore the new dimensions – how shipping could enable the transition and how shipping can benefit as an enabler? What fuels and technologies are available for shipping to lead the transition rather than be a follower?”

To achieve net zero emissions across the energy system will require energy efficiency and behavioural change. For this electrification, renewables, hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels, and carbon capture, utilisation and storage that will form the key pillars of decarbonising the global maritime energy system.

“This is why exploring the two critical energy transition value chains of hydrogen and carbon is at the heart of this latest research from ABS,” Plevrakis said.

The report explores how shipping will become a significant value change enabler as the transportation carrier for new energies and explores technologies that leverage these new energy sources.

The report also examines the boundaries applicable to shipping with concept designs of Liquified Hydrogen and Liquified CO2 carriers that could support these two value chains.

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The ABS report does not stop at technology and adds an extra layer looking at carbon economics. “We attempt to unwrap these new layers of decarbonization, by navigating though the concepts of Carbon Pricing Mechanisms, Carbon Offsets Carbon Accounting and, ultimately, Carbon Economics,” Plevrakis said.