{"id":35694,"date":"2024-01-25T04:00:29","date_gmt":"2024-01-25T08:00:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/theicct.org\/?p=35694"},"modified":"2024-01-23T17:45:51","modified_gmt":"2024-01-23T21:45:51","slug":"pr-real-world-methane-emissions-from-lng-fueled-ships-are-higher-than-current-regulations-assume-new-study-finds-jan24","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/theicct.org\/pr-real-world-methane-emissions-from-lng-fueled-ships-are-higher-than-current-regulations-assume-new-study-finds-jan24\/","title":{"rendered":"Real-world methane emissions from LNG-fueled ships are higher than current regulations assume, new study finds"},"content":{"rendered":"

Policymakers urged to consider increasing the default methane slip value to at least 6% for the most common LNG engine<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

(January 25th, 2024) Washington, DC. \u2212 Today, the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) released a new report<\/a> characterizing methane emissions from ships fueled by liquefied natural gas (LNG) operating in Europe and Australia. It is based on data collected by drones, helicopters, and onboard sensors during the two-year Fugitive and Unburned Methane Emissions from the Ships (FUMES) project.<\/p>\n

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Caption<\/strong>: Explicit ApS uses a drone to measure methane emissions in the exhaust plume of a ship while TNO measures in the exhaust stack from the engine room.
\n(Photo credit: Explicit ApS) High resolution copy of above for media use can be found here<\/a>.<\/center><\/div>\n

FUMES is a collaboration between the ICCT, Explicit ApS, and the Netherlands Organization for Applied Scientific Research (TNO). The FUMES report contains the most comprehensive dataset of real-world methane emissions from LNG-fueled ships to date, including \u201cmethane slip\u201d from engines and fugitive methane emissions from LNG cargo unloading operations. Methane slip is the proportion of LNG fuel, which consists mainly of methane, that escapes unburned from the engine. Real-world methane slip measured in the plumes of 18 ships using the most common type of LNG marine engine (LPDF 4-stroke) averaged 6.4%, whereas EU regulations currently assume 3.1% methane slip and the United Nations International Maritime Organization (IMO) assumes 3.5%.<\/p>\n

The report therefore recommends that EU and IMO policymakers consider increasing the default methane slip value for LPDF 4-stroke engines to at least 6%.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThis study demonstrates the importance of collecting and analyzing real-world data. Regulators need to use the best available data to develop effective climate policies. If methane slip assumptions remain too low, shipowners will be able to use LNG in high-methane-slip engines longer, effectively getting an unfair advantage over lower-emitting fuels and engines. This is contrary to the goals of rapidly decarbonizing the shipping sector to align with the Paris Agreement and counterproductive to reducing global methane emissions this decade, as called for in the Global Methane Pledge.\u201d<\/p>\n

-Dr. Bryan Comer, lead author, director of the marine program, ICCT<\/p>\n

\u201cThis study shows that remote measurements are a valid and effective method to assess the real-world methane emissions from a broader fleet. Both methane slip due to incomplete combustion and overall fugitive emissions can be reliably quantified using remote measurement techniques. The presented results provide a realistic and independent picture of maritime methane emissions.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. J\u00f6rg Beecken, senior research and project manager, Explicit ApS<\/p>\n

\u201cThis study provides a concrete demonstration of the application of remote sensing techniques to determine representative methane slip levels and fugitive emissions from ships. While conventional measurement procedures such as for certification are designed to be accurate, they may not be representative. Real-world measurements can overcome this discrepancy and can contribute to establishing representative data for fact-based policy-making.\u201d<\/p>\n

BSc. Robin Vermeulen, senior researcher, TNO<\/p>\n

Other results:<\/p>\n