Dr Elizabeth Lindstad on why increased use of LNG might not reduce maritime GHG emissions at all
Earlier this year industry organisations promoting liquefied natural gas as a maritime fuel commissioned and published a study on the climate benefits of LNG for ships. The study claims up to 21% GHG savings on a well-to-wake basis if ships use LNG over alternative fossil fuels.
The research was undertaken by the consultancy Thinkstep. Following its publication, Dr Elizabeth Lindstad, chief scientist at the SINTEF Ocean research organisation in Norway, reached out to T&E with her commentary on the Thinkstep study.
In her commentary, Dr Lindstad raises several issues with the methodology of the Thinkstep analysis and, based on the Sintef engine measurements, argues that in most cases LNG’s GHG footprint will actually be worse than that of MGO. T&E decided to publish this commentary in order to raise public and industry awareness of the dangers of a large scale shift to LNG in the maritime sector.
Related Articles
View All
Maritime organisations call to include shipping in Electrification Action Plan
Maritime companies and organisations call the EU Commission to fully integrate the shipping industry in the upcoming Electrification Action Plan
IMO Net-Zero Framework: Way forward after MEPC 84
The 84th session of the IMO MEPC postponed negotiations on the substance of the Net-Zero Framework
UN shipping deal lives to fight another day, as US fails to derail negotiations
Negotiations on Net-Zero Framework postponed until the autumn, but appetite for green measures remains