Center explores plan to run ships entirely on clean energy

The people, requesting anonymity, said the plan is being explored by the Ministries of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).

The innovative strategy will not only help reduce operating costs for cargo ships but will also reduce their carbon emissions. This could be a potential game changer for the country’s energy security as India imports 85% of its crude oil and 53% of its gas requirement. Bunker or ship fuel constitutes a major part of the operating cost of the ship.

Maritime transport accounts for about 95% and 70% of India’s trade by volume and value. Freight handled by top domestic ports is expected to reach 1,695 million metric tonnes (mmt) in the current fiscal from 672.60 million tonnes last year.

Meanwhile, exploitation of eco-friendly fuel sources by Indian Navy ships will allow them to stay at sea for longer periods without the need for support ships in the high seas to return to port or refuel. It also comes at the time of India’s quest for a blue water navy, when the US is seeking a greater role for India in stabilizing and maintaining the rule of law in the Indo-Pacific region, which extends all the way to land. and spread over the sea. From the west coast of America to the coasts of East Africa. Questions emailed Friday evening to the Ministries of Ports, Shipping and Waterways and New and Renewable Energy remained unanswered as of press time.

The government’s plan underscores the rapid progress India has made so far in solar and wind power generation. The country is also considering a proposal to make it mandatory for fertilizer plants and oil refineries to purchase green hydrogen, which is produced by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen using electrolyzers powered by renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.

In his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a National Hydrogen Mission. A solar hydrogen program was launched during the International Solar Alliance (ISA) assembly to produce emission-free fuels at $2 per kilogram, significantly lower than the current $5 per kilogram.

New plan a. comes against the background of 8 trillion investment is envisaged under the Sagarmala program by 2035. This will require construction of more ports along the country’s 7,517 km coastline and setting up of 142 cargo terminals at 12 major ports. Modi pledged to cut India’s total projected carbon emissions by 1 billion tonnes by 2030 at the COP26 summit in Glasgow in November and reduce the country’s economy’s carbon intensity by 45% and net-zero carbon emissions by the end of the decade. have taken. 2070. So far

India is also working on a multi-pronged approach to reduce carbon emissions, including a concerted effort towards electric mobility. In a first by the state government, Maharashtra aims to deregister internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles and not register any ICE vehicles from 2030, as reported by Mint. Plans include registering only non-emissions-generating electric vehicles and refueling with other carbon emission-free next-generation fuels such as hydrogen by 2030.