The Ministry of Ports, Shipping, and Waterways (MoPSW) of India has disclosed its goals of reaching a 60% renewable energy share.
Major ports have implemented and started a number of initiatives as part of the Green Shipping initiative to help lower greenhouse gas emissions from ports and the shipping industry.
The ports assisted in achieving the government’s goals for a green and sustainable maritime industry.
Included in the activities were shore-to-ship power, the use of electrically powered port equipment and its promotion, the use of LNG and CNG as alternative fuels, and the provision of bunkering and storage space for such environmentally friendly fuels as LNG, CNG, hydrogen, ammonia, and others.
The transition towards renewable sources of energy including solar power, wind power, and tidal power has already been initiated at many of the major ports of the country.
Now, the ministry is planning to increase the use of renewables to 60 percent of the total power demand of each of its major Ports from a present share of less than 10%.
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“The ports have also aimed to reduce Carbon emissions, per ton of cargo handled, by 30% by the year 2030. The Maritime Vision Document-2030, released by Prime Minister, is a 10 Year blueprint on India’s vision of a sustainable Maritime sector and vibrant blue economy,” Shri Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Minister, MoPSW, said.
Shri Sonowal also said that, as envisaged in the National Hydrogen Mission, the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways has identified and nominated Paradip Port, Deendayal Port, and V.O. Chidambarar Port for developing hydrogen hubs, capable of handling, storage, and generation of green hydrogen by the year 2030.
The green port initiatives include the acquisition of equipment for monitoring environmental pollution, acquisition of dust suppression systems, setting up of STP’s garbage disposal system for ports and ships, developing of shore reception facility for wastes from ships, and setting up projects for energy generation from renewable energy sources.
It also encompasses providing shore power to ships at berths, creating Oil Spill Response (Tier-1) capabilities at all ports, taking actions to improve harbor water quality, the inclusion of sustainable practices in terminal design, development, and operation, increasing green cover within port premises etc.
India’s largest shipbuilder Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has been a part of the green initiative, with several projects running to boost decarbonization efforts.
These include green urban mobility solutions like hybrid electric ferries, autonomous zero-emission vessels, pilot projects on hydrogen fuel cell ferries, electric catamaran water taxi, hybrid electric RoRo, hybrid tugs, etc.
CSL is pushing forward with the development of the first hydrogen fuel-cell ferry in India. The 100-passenger vessel is being developed as a Fully Indigenised Homegrown Technology project.
The ferry will be powered by two 25 kWh H2 fuel cells, developed by a global software integration major for the automotive industry KPIT.
The pilot project is being developed in cooperation with the Indian Classification Society, KPIT and a network of 37 national laboratories under the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR).
Story adapted from Ships&Ports
