Maritime Energy
Technologies
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND
Recent energy price
increases have highlighted the need to improve energy efficiency and to
develop alternative domestic energy sources in order to reduce our
dependence on foreign oil. Increased energy cost has affected the
operations of most marine firms. In addition, public environmental
awareness has also led regulatory agencies worldwide to apply stricter
limits on industrial pollutants. These regulations are just beginning
to affect the marine industry.
Although a number of international and domestic emissions regulations
have been passed or are pending, many U.S. environmental organizations
consider marine power plants to be one of the last unregulated sources
of exhaust emissions. Marine exhaust emissions are also the focus of
increasing scrutiny in local non-attainment areas and are considered by
some to be a significant contributor to the problem.
As a result, members of the marine community, including engine
manufacturers, vessel owners and operators, and transportation planners
are facing new challenges to meet the twin mandates for lower energy
costs and reduced exhaust emissions. A logical response to these
challenges is to explore the application of technologies being used or
developed for stationary and mobile engines to vessels. However, the
proven technologies present new hurdles when applied to the unique
marine environment. Although the alternatives hold great promise for the
industry, the lack of clear information on their efficacy, cost and
operational impact for marine applications create business risks that
impede their implementation. Thus, while recognizing the challenge, the
marine industry is looking to the government for direction and
leadership. MARAD's Energy Technologies Program will address the most
crucial information shortfalls through government/industry partnerships,
coordinated studies, and technology demonstration projects.
APPROACH
The objective of this Program is to be achieved by fostering Partnership
Agreements with the many interested parties in Industry and Government
in order to accelerate the industry’s existing efforts to achieve
complementary goals. The Program fosters studies, demonstration
projects, and industry outreach efforts.
The studies address technology, economic, policy, and intermodal issues.
Studies may stand alone or be followed by technology demonstrations
which will focus upon obtaining information about the fuel consumption
and exhaust emissions generated.
This Program will address methodologies that are already proven to be
practical approaches within each of the technology areas and for which
significant interest has been shown by the maritime community. As
changes to a vessel’s power plant are made, MARAD will assist the
operator in obtaining the equipment and expertise to conduct fuel
consumption and emissions monitoring tests. When appropriate,
measurements will be taken before and after the changes, in order to
determine the level of improvement in fuel consumption and the reduction
of pollutants in the engine exhaust, and to guide development of future
standards, regulations, and policy decisions.
The Technology Areas addressed by this plan include Emission Monitoring
Baseline Measurements, Diesel Technologies, Alternative Fuel
Technologies and Alternate Power Plant Technologies. Details of each
Technology Area will be provided in a following Section and the details
of each specific Technology Demonstration are provided as appendices.
The Industry Outreach portion of this plan includes periodic workshops
as the forum for presenting accomplishments and progress reports to
Industry and Government participants, and discussion of relevant new
information. All information gathered will be made available on this
web site.
MARAD INTEREST
Cumulative state and local air emission regulations are now adversely
impacting vessel operations, port operations, and vessel designs on a
nationwide basis. Other Federal Agencies are concerned with
promulgating and enforcing emission regulations but not with providing
incentives, assistance, and support to the maritime industry in
developing necessary emission reduction technologies.
Performance of this program directly supports the Strategic Goals of
both DOT and MARAD. Specifically, the DOT Strategic Goal is, "Reduce
the adverse effects of transportation on ecosystems and the natural
environment," and the MARAD Strategic Goal is, "Improve intermodal
transportation system performance by applying advanced technology and
innovation".
Potential Program benefits include supporting waterborne transportation
as an alternate or complementary transportation mode, reducing adverse
environmental effects of marine transportation, and development of niche
markets for U.S. shipyards.
