GreenShipping Niedersachsen secures funds to carry on with decarbonization projects

Germany’s GreenShipping Niedersachsen (GSN) Lower Saxony Competence Center has received funding approval from compatriot NBank to continue its work on maritime decarbonization.

Back in 2015, Germany’s government launched the center in recognition of its responsibility for the economy and the environment. The government-backed project is being jointly implemented by the non-profit organization MARIKO GmbH and several universities and institutes.

Located in Leer, Elsfleth and Oldenburg, the competence center focuses on developing technologies that reduce emissions in maritime shipping.

As part of the previous funding round, GreenShipping Niedersachsen directed its work activities toward the topic of alternative fuels and in particular auxiliary wind propulsion systems. 

This has resulted in projects such as a fully electric methanol harbor boat, FlettnerFLEET and RASANT hybrid sail cargo ships.

“In the next three years, we will continue to use the new funds to promote greener shipping in Lower Saxony, offer events and excursions, and launch new innovation projects,” MARIKO GmbH said.

Green E-Shipping

One of the projects initiated by the competence center is Green E-Shipping. The aim of the project is to develop, build, test and operate a methanol harbor boat with a novel ship propulsion technology.

In addition, the goal is to construct the methanol infrastructure for refueling in the Port of Emden.

By using the eco-friendly boat, 32 tonnes of CO2 per year could be saved in the context of harbor boat passenger transport.

The Emden harbor boat MB Ratsdelft, which was built in 1975 and powered by a 122 hp diesel engine and has been used for tourist harbor tours ever since, is to be replaced with a new, environmentally friendly, and fully electric harbor boat with a methanol fuel cell.

RASANT

The RASANT project seeks to solve technological challenges to develop a climate-friendly and economical cargo sailing concept. The project envisions hybrid sail cargo ships or cargo ships with wind propulsion systems that cross the oceans almost silently and emission-free.

Main goals of the project, which runs from January 2023 until the end of June 2025, are:

• Marketable ship concept with upscaling potential;
• Cost-effective, self-sufficient ship operation by maximizing the main wind propulsion;
• Network building for climate-neutral wind-based ship propulsion concepts.

As part of RASANT, four project partners are developing a ship concept that meets the modern market requirements of climate-neutral freight shipping and primarily uses the power of wind, which is free. An automated, “powerful” main propulsion system based on wind is supplemented by an auxiliary propulsion system based on renewable, hydrogen-based fuels.

The proportion of the main wind propulsion system will be maximized as technology advances so that ship operation can be as cost-effective and self-sufficient as possible, the project partners explained.

Specifically, the RASANT team is currently developing the concept design for a 10,000 dwt wind-powered vessel in close collaboration with the shipping industry. The goal is a ship that on an average voyage generates more than 50% of its propulsion energy from wind power while being economically attractive at the same time.

The design has a length of 120 meters, a breadth of 20-21 meters and a molded depth of 18 meters.

FlettnerFLEET

The FlettnerFLEET project aims to further develop Flettner technology in Germany for widespread use in national and international shipping, and to contribute to climate protection in shipping with this additional wind propulsion system. The project started in January 2023 and has a duration of three years.

To this end, different types of ships are investigated and optimized for operation with Flettner rotors in cooperation with the shipping companies involved in the project.

The main goals of the FlettnerFLEET project are:

• To provide a basis for the design of various cargo vessels with Flettner rotors;
• Further development of the Flettner rotor technology;
• Optimization of existing assistance systems;
• Extensive data collection for a broad database.

Flettner rotors have already demonstrated their fundamental suitability as wind propulsion systems for modern merchant vessels in various pilot projects.

The technology is already showing that Flettner rotors can achieve fuel savings of 10 to 30% and, under favorable conditions, more. The associated emission reductions are said to be essential for climate protection.