© Ilshin Shipping
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engineering
operation in 25 years,” says Professor Kangki Lee, Senior
Vice President of AVL High Power Systems. “So
that means we have to start making improvements now,
because solutions must be developed well in advance of
2050 to consider time for industrialization.”
There is no single technological silver bullet to meeting
these goals. Instead, technological innovations must be
matched with improved operating strategies, new fuels,
global infrastructure changes and a long-term perspective.
TECHNOLOGICAL APPROACHES
In many of the biggest applications, the goals are twofold.
Cut pollutants and optimize existing systems with
technological augmentation.
“If you look at the power range of large container ships,
for example, they spend most of their life operating at less
than 60 % of their rated power, depending on the trading
route,” explains Maria Segura, Product Manager, AVL
High Power Systems. “The rest of that power is reserved
for transient activities like manoeuvrability, or catching
up with a schedule. With hybrid systems we can augment
these transient operations and therefore reduce the
size of the engine. So, the efficiency is
increased by means of optimization
– right-sizing the engine
and then operating at a more
efficient state.”
As well as hybridization and
optimization, AVL is also pioneering
aftertreatment solutions
for the removal of SOx and carbon
particulates from marine exhaust gasses.
BEYOND TECHNOLOGY
All applications are different in the way that the vehicles
are built, used, maintained and their role in the bigger ecosystem.
But with decades of experience, a vast and comprehensive
product portfolio, and a global network with a
deep understanding of all the issues, at AVL we can create
unique solutions that are tailored to every use case, and
which seek out efficiencies throughout the energy chain,
from well-to-wheel.
But solving the problem of emissions of high-powered
systems is not just about individual applications, but also
about long-term, global visions of policy and investment.
This includes the reuse of captured carbon in the creation
of new fuels, and the increased use of digitalization –
driving intelligent, adaptive solutions
that offer a wide range of efficiency
and performance improvements.
And it doesn’t stop there.
“The main driver of these changes
is climate regulations, but another is
economy,” says Professor Lee. “By
having these new solutions you can
comply with emission regulations,
and because of the increased efficiency
you profit from it. So, it is
better for the environment, and it is
better for your business.”
Though marine vessels transport
more than 80 % of the world’s cargo,
and produce less than 5 % of the
emissions, much can be done to reduce
this even further. With lifecycles
for ships and locomotives commonly
extending well beyond 25 years, the
challenge is to meet the IMO targets
of a 70 % reduction of carbon emission
or 50 % reduction of GHG,
compared to 2008 levels by 2050.
“The ships and locomotives that
are being built now will still be in