In October, MARIN will kick off the ZERO JIP initiative focused on the maritime energy transition. In this Joint Industry Project, project partners will design, build and test prototypes of the “Engine Room of the Future” to assure reliable future operations in realistic conditions.
The energy transition and decarbonisation of the maritime sector is underway. New (IMO and other) regulations will transform ship propulsion to carbon neutral and ultimately zero emission operations. This creates business opportunities, but is also very challenging. It raises many questions and uncertainties.
Given the relatively long life cycle of ships, upcoming choices for ship owners, shipyards and naval architects are difficult to make. What will be the fuels of the next decade, how will energy be stored on board, distributed and managed, which power system will impose itself and fulfil the ambitions, which bunkering will be available in most harbours? The ZERO JIP seeks answers to these questions.
The participation fee is 50,000 euros and 30,000 euros for SME. With a 1-million-euro TKI investment, MARIN aims for a total budget of 2 million euros with 20 participants. The project kicks off in October 2020 and will have a duration of 2 years.
Among the participating companies and organisations are the Dutch Defense Material Organisation (DMO), Dutch National Shipping Organisation (Rijksrederij), Boskalis, Bureau Veritas, Damen Shipyards, MTU-Rolls-Royce, SanLorenzo, Oceanco, IHC, Port of Rotterdam and Navantia. According to MARIN several other companies have expressed interest and are in the final stage of contract signing. New participants are still welcome to join.
