New E-Fuels Project to Make International Shipping Climate Neutral

In the not-too-distant future, one of the world's largest bulk carriers could be powered by hydrogen and solar power.

The Los Angeles Times reports on the European Union's GAMMA project, which launched in January and will run through 2024.

The idea is to use methanol and green methanol to fuel the ship, then convert the hydrogen to electricity via a fuel cell, according to Phys.org.

The idea is to eliminate the need for auxiliary generators that run on fossil fuels.

"All in all, the project is very visionary, and could be a green game changer for shipping in the future," an engineer with Icelandic company Verk's, which is leading the project, tells Phys.org.

The idea is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the maritime industry, which the International Maritime Organization has set a goal of reaching "net-zero" by 2050.

The GAMMA project will work with 16 companies and researchers from Europe, including Germany's Fraunhofer Institute for Microengineering and Microsystems, which will be involved in the design of the vessel, according to a press release.

It's unclear how much the project will cost, but the Times reports it could be in the neighborhood of $20 million.

Read the Entire Article