Green ship low carbon response strategy

First, China's green ship development status and existing problems

In response to the new requirements of international conventions and IMO for ship energy conservation and environmental protection, China has made some achievements in the field of green ship development: to standard international industry standards and norms, and introduced relevant policies to guide the green development of ship construction and shipping industry; Domestic research institutes and enterprises have followed the international trend and made breakthroughs in the research and development of alternative fuels for ships and the construction of green ships. However, there are still some problems in the overall planning, concept guidance and technological innovation of green ships.

1. Development status

Driven by the background of energy conservation and emission reduction in the international shipping industry, China has introduced relevant policies to guide the shipping and shipping industry to actively carry out technology research and development and construction in the field of green ships. In 2013, the Ministry of Transport issued the Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Application of Liquefied Natural Gas in the Water Transport Industry to promote the use of liquefied natural gas as fuel for ships and promote energy conservation and emission reduction in the shipping industry [11]. In 2017, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Transport jointly issued the "13th Five-Year Plan for Scientific and Technological Innovation in the Field of Transportation", which listed advanced ship propulsion technology and green ship design and optimization technology as key scientific and technological development directions [12]. In August 2020, the Ministry of Transport issued the Guiding Opinions on Promoting the Construction of New Infrastructure in the Field of Transportation to encourage ships to use liquefied natural gas and other clean energy [13].

Domestic enterprises and research institutions have also begun to take greening as an important indicator in the process of ship development and construction, and have made certain achievements in the construction of green ship types, the greening of supporting equipment, special emission reduction technologies, and the recycling of ship materials [14], and some research on new energy and new fuel technologies are at the world's advanced level. LNG and other alternative energy sources have been widely used in non-gas ships, such as the 3.2×105t dual fuel super large oil tanker developed by Shanghai Waigaoqiao Shipbuilding Company with the dual fuel main engine of Winterthul Engine Co., LTD. (WinGD), the international ship energy efficiency design index is 37.5% lower than the base line, meeting the requirements of the third stage. It was approved by the American Bureau of Shipping (ABS) in 2018 [15]. Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Group Co., Ltd. built the world's first 3.08×105t ultra-large crude oil vessel "Kaili" for China Merchants Group Co., LTD., which is equipped with sail equipment, filling the technical gap in the application of domestic sail equipment on real ships [16]. Cosco Shipping Group has successfully installed solar panels on the car carrier "COSCO Takeoff", making it the world's leading solar vessel using PV/grid-connected technology [17]. In addition, LNG-powered super large container ships, bulk carriers, oil tankers, and passenger and roller vessels have entered the construction stage of real ships, and some ship types have been delivered; The battery-powered three-fuel vehicle carrier has also entered the construction stage of the real ship. Other alternative energy sources such as ethane, liquefied petroleum gas, methanol and ammonia-powered ship models are also under development. China's development in the field of green ships basically meets the relevant green environmental protection requirements of IMO at the present stage, but there is still a certain gap between the prospective technical research for higher green environmental protection requirements in the future and that of EU member states, Japan and South Korea [18]. If we miss the critical period of green ship technology research and development from 2020 to 2030, after EU member states, Japan and other countries have established a mature technical system, China will fall into a disadvantageous situation in the field of green ships.

(2) There are problems

1. There is a lack of overall planning on green ship development at the national level

In terms of green ship technology research and development, China lacks planning and overall arrangement for a rainy day, and does not play the role of integrated development of "production, study, research and use". There is a lack of incentive sharing mechanism among scientific research units and enterprises, which leads to the phenomenon of low repetitive investment and construction of ship enterprises and related scientific research institutions. It seriously restricts the efficient and intensive development of China's green ship technology, and even hinders the time process of China's transformation from a shipbuilding power to a shipbuilding power. In order to comply with the development situation of energy conservation and emission reduction in the international shipping industry, seize the leading international technology advantage of green ships, and grasp the right to speak in the formulation of new international standards and norms, China urgently needs to mark the IMO's carbon emission reduction vision, formulate national and industry-level plans for the development of domestic green (zero emission) ships, and carry out green assessment of the whole industrial chain of various alternative energy sources. Establish the progress of green ship technology research and development and emission reduction targets.

2. The independent development ability of green ship supporting equipment and technology cannot meet the demand

The technical capability and environmental performance of ship supporting equipment greatly affect the "green" level of the entire ship industry. In recent years, a new generation of energy-saving, emission-reduction, low-noise green ship power, supporting mechanical and electrical equipment, ship environmental protection equipment and materials have been launched, becoming the mainstream trend of Marine energy-saving technology in the world, and promoting the development of emerging green ship technology and industry [19]. However, China has not yet carried out systematic research in the field of key supporting technologies for ship energy conservation and emission reduction, and scientific research forces in the directions of high efficiency and energy conservation, vibration and noise reduction, energy conservation and emission reduction, and new materials have not formed a joint force, and "skirmding" has led to small research forces and weak integrated innovation capabilities, making it difficult to achieve efficient transformation of scientific research results into productivity. The core technologies of some of the core supporting equipment of green ships, such as dual-fuel engines and thin-film envelope systems, still rely on foreign patent owners. Moreover, the green transformation of the shipping industry requires enterprises to make a large amount of investment, and the rise in operating costs may weaken its original market competitive advantage, which will affect the enthusiasm of enterprises to participate in the green reform of the shipping industry. In the context of increasing Sino-US trade friction, it is urgent to consider and solve the problem of breaking through the key supporting equipment and "blocking neck" technology of China's green ships as soon as possible, forming the ability of independent development, and building a healthy internal cycle of the green ship industry.

3. Green ship technology innovation and standards to lead the lack of power

Norway, Japan, the United Kingdom and other countries attach great importance to seize the international leading technology plateau with tight time arrangement and efficient technology research and development when formulating the development plan of green ships, so as to participate in the formulation of relevant standards and norms of international organizations and highlight their own voice. In terms of technology research and development, emphasis is placed on green design and innovation from the aspects of new alternative fuel, hull optimization design, green power propulsion, etc. Although China's green ship research and development and construction have made breakthroughs in some fields, but on the whole has not reached the international advanced level; The initiative of independent innovation of green ship design technology under the international Ship Energy efficiency Design Index is insufficient. Most of them are forced to meet the pressure of international conventions, new codes and new standards, through additional energy saving and emission reduction equipment and improvement based on the existing ship framework structure, and lack of pioneering green ship design concepts.

Second, countermeasures and suggestions

As an important participant in the United Nations action on climate change, China put forward its carbon emission reduction target for 2030 at the Paris Climate Change Conference in 2015. The development of green ships is an important way to practice international emission reduction commitments, and also an important opportunity to promote the transformation and upgrading of China's shipbuilding industry. 2020-2030 is the key period to accelerate the breakthrough of green ship core technology, only by fully grasping this key window period, can we prepare for the realization of green ship marketization and industrialization after 2030. It is recommended to plan the development strategy of green ships as soon as possible from the national and industry levels, reverse the situation of passive following, imitation, and import if it cannot be made, and fully evaluate the basic conditions in the field of domestic green research and development and manufacturing at the same time, give full play to the advantageous resources and strength at home and abroad to make breakthroughs in key "jam neck" technologies.

(1) Strengthen government leadership and formulate national and industry-level green ship development plans

1. Guide development direction with policy planning and promote resource integration

Green ships are an important opportunity for China's shipbuilding industry to enhance international competitiveness and ensure sustainable development. We should base on the development needs of the shipbuilding industry, benchmark domestic and foreign carbon emission reduction targets, establish the strategic position of green ship development from the national and industry level as soon as possible, and formulate a systematic and operable green ship development plan. Promote and guide the integration and utilization of research forces and resources of relevant domestic enterprises and research institutes with policy planning, reduce repetitive and low-quality inputs, focus on key development directions, and accelerate the breakthrough of the core key technology system of green ships.

2. To motivate enterprises to carry out technological innovation

The green transformation of the shipping industry is inseparable from the overall supervision, intervention and incentive of government departments, such as the development of carbon emission charging system and the layout of alternative fuel infrastructure construction. Tax incentives, special subsidies and other incentives to mobilize the enthusiasm of enterprises and shipowners to participate in green ship research and development, construction, operation and other activities, to help enterprises reduce the incremental cost burden caused by green ship innovation. The government's normative guidance and the active participation of enterprises are the key factors to accelerate the development of green ship science and technology and reduce navigation costs, and only in this way can the market-oriented operation of green ships be realized as soon as possible.

(2) Layout of technical research, and accelerate the market-oriented application process of Marine alternative fuels

(1) Promote the market application of LNG ships

The demand for green development not only promotes the replacement of Marine fuels from fossil fuels to new clean fuels, but also promotes the transformation of Marine power from diesel propulsion system to hybrid propulsion system and electric propulsion system. China has made breakthroughs in the development and power propulsion of LNG fuel, but it is far from having the conditions for commercial operation, and the infrastructure conditions are not enough. It is recommended to integrate the ongoing and expected implementation of alternative fuel research and development activities, formulate a "National Key Plan for the development of alternative fuels and technologies for Ship power", and use LNG fuel as a transitional alternative to achieve the strategic goal of carbon reduction, and accelerate the market-oriented application and infrastructure construction of LNG dual-fuel hybrid propulsion systems.

2. Demonstration application of hydrogen fuel technology

In view of the fact that ammonia and hydrogen energy may become the mainstream alternative fuel for zero-carbon emission ship power in the future, China urgently needs to focus on breaking through the production, transportation, storage and other technologies of ammonia and hydrogen fuel and the layout of filling outlets. Gradually promote the demonstration application of hydrogen fuel cell power batteries in the field of ships, relying on the Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta Marine economic belt, the first in China to establish a demonstration application project of hydrogen fuel cell power ships, and then promote it to the whole country. With the continuous application and improvement of LNG and hydrogen fuel technology in the field of ship power propulsion, the iterative effect of industrial development will gradually appear.

(3) Implementing open cooperation to enhance core competitiveness while leading the development of the international industry

1. Absorb and learn from domestic and foreign resource advantages with the concept of open cooperation

The realization of the strategic goals of energy conservation and emission reduction of the United Nations cannot be achieved without the cooperation and cooperation of all countries. Shipbuilding industry as an international industry, in the direction of scientific and technological development is still dominated by a few countries such as EU member states and Japan. Foreign cooperation and exchange is an important way to accelerate the development of China's green ship industrialization and promote the early realization of international commitments on carbon emission reduction. The high-quality development of green ships, in addition to the cooperation of various departments and units within the shipbuilding industry system, also involves the cross-application of new materials, new energy and other disciplines, we must establish the development concept of open cooperation, maximize the integration of advantageous resources inside and outside the industry and carry out joint research.

2. Promote the competitiveness of the industry through diversified cooperation

Focusing on the construction of the "Maritime Silk Road", we will promote the drawing up of advanced technologies and the introduction of high-level technical personnel through the establishment of international joint research and development programs, scientific and technological cooperation projects, and joint personnel training. Under the current tight international environment, how to carry out scientific and technological cooperation in related fields, fully demonstrate China's advantages in low-carbon emission reduction technologies on international platforms, participate in the formulation of relevant international new standards, and promote the coordinated development of the "internal and external double cycle" of the green ship industry has become a topic worth pondering.