Ship Garbage – A Viable Source of Green Energy?

Abstract

More than 90% of the cargo in international trade is transported by ships. Ocean transportation is considered to be the cheapest and the best mode of transport for bulk cargo. But there is also a flip side to it. Ships are supposed to be the most pollutant and every year, one billion metric tonnes of carbon dioxide are released into the atmosphere by container ships around the world, accounting for about 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set strict targets to cut down CO2 emissions, following which several initiatives have been taken by the shipping industry to embrace new technologies that can make the industry greener. Significant investments have been made into R&D to develop alternative marine fuels. The feasibility of converting ships garbage into biofuel is also being tested. This article explores the options in generating and supplying biofuel to ships from garbage which can have twin benefits of disposing garbage effectively as well as running the ship on green fuel.