Energy efficiency could help shipowners finance decarbonisation by cutting fuel bills and carbon compliance costs, argues Kongsberg Maritime’s Oskar Levander.
Assessing projects on fuel savings alone, he says, overlooks avoided EU ETS costs, lower FuelEU Maritime compliance costs and potential chartering or financing benefits supported by verified data.
The EU ETS covers intra-EU emissions and half those from voyages entering or leaving EU ports. FuelEU Maritime applies increasingly demanding greenhouse gas intensity targets.
Levander points to a Kongsberg Kamsarmax study combining hull and propulsion optimisation, energy management and wind assistance. Compared with a conventional vessel on similar trades, the design modelled fuel savings above 40%, exceeding 50% on the most favourable wind routes. Wind assistance also attracts a FuelEU reward factor.
Including compliance savings could, he suggests, turn a project with a seven-year payback in 2021 into a three-year payback in 2026.
The proposed IMO Net-Zero Framework would add global fuel-intensity requirements and emissions pricing. Adoption is due for a vote in December 2026; rules could take effect in 2028 if approved.
Carbon-price volatility remains a risk. Nevertheless, Levander argues that reducing energy demand offers lasting value regardless of the fuel a vessel uses.