Periodic Reporting for period 2 - EMERGE (Evaluation, control and Mitigation of the EnviRonmental impacts of shippinG Emissions)
Période du rapport: 2021-08-01 au 2023-01-31
The project “Evaluation, control and Mitigation of the EnviRonmental impacts of shippinG Emissions” (EMERGE) has been funded by the European Commission under the Horizon 2020 programme. This four-year project started in February 2020.
EMERGE aims to evaluate emission reduction solutions for shipping and develop measures to reduce environmental impacts. Onboard experiments will focus on abatement techniques, analyzing emissions and concentrations in water, air, and marine biota. EMERGE will comprehensively analyze both marine and atmospheric impacts, including the effectiveness of scrubbers, and develop an integrated modelling framework for assessing the impacts of shipping emissions on marine ecosystems in different vulnerable regions. The project will provide new knowledge on water and air pollution and their impacts, highlight optimal procedures for mitigation, and offer recommendations for policy actions.
EMERGE includes five case studies in ecologically vulnerable regions, namely the Eastern Mediterranean, Northern Adriatic Sea, region surrounding the Lagoon of Aveiro, Solent Strait, and Öresund Strait. The project will provide harmonized knowledge on water and air pollution and their impacts, both on a European scale and within these vulnerable regions. The scenarios for the future will address various emission abatement technologies, fuel switch, and ship operation, and will provide recommendations for policy actions for decision-makers and ship owners in the EU and globally.
EMERGE aims to evaluate emission reduction solutions for shipping and develop measures to reduce environmental impacts. Onboard experiments will focus on abatement techniques, analyzing emissions and concentrations in water, air, and marine biota. EMERGE will comprehensively analyze both marine and atmospheric impacts, including the effectiveness of scrubbers, and develop an integrated modelling framework for assessing the impacts of shipping emissions on marine ecosystems in different vulnerable regions. The project will provide new knowledge on water and air pollution and their impacts, highlight optimal procedures for mitigation, and offer recommendations for policy actions.
EMERGE includes five case studies in ecologically vulnerable regions, namely the Eastern Mediterranean, Northern Adriatic Sea, region surrounding the Lagoon of Aveiro, Solent Strait, and Öresund Strait. The project will provide harmonized knowledge on water and air pollution and their impacts, both on a European scale and within these vulnerable regions. The scenarios for the future will address various emission abatement technologies, fuel switch, and ship operation, and will provide recommendations for policy actions for decision-makers and ship owners in the EU and globally.
During the first reporting period, we analyzed measures to reduce emissions and discharges from marine vessels. The STEAM emission model was updated using refined factors and extended in EMERGE to include sea ice, wind, waves, and currents. These improvements were based on Copernicus Marine data and are included in the CAMS2-61 project.
We created a database for scrubber discharge water, identifying PAHs and metals as the primary pollutants. Updated shipping emission factors were collected and organized into a structured database for use in oceanic models. Our team developed a new ocean chemistry module in OpenDrift and improved chemical transport models for regional air quality evaluation. We revised our project measurement campaign plans, including equipment, measurements, and sampling protocols, due to the pandemic. To broaden our scope, we obtained discharge samples from similar projects across Europe.
We engaged stakeholders to collect their experiences on emission control technologies, and developed various communication and dissemination efforts, such as logos, flyers, press releases, etc.
EMERGE held its kick-off meeting at IIASA in Laxenburg, Austria from February 24-26, 2020. The first stakeholder workshop was held online on March 11, 2021, and the second General Assembly was held online on March 11-12, 2021.
In the second reporting period, the STEAM model was extended to include ambient effects on ship's fuel consumption and emissions. Marine and climate data from Copernicus data services were used. The model was also refined to predict fuel consumption and emissions using methanol and MGO as fuel. The updates aim to improve the model's accuracy compared to EU MRV mechanism fuel reports.
The STEAM model was improved by updating scrubber water discharge rates, global scrubber installations, and scrubber ban areas. Emission factors for NOx, CO, CO2, SOx, and components of PM were also revised. Other improvements include the revision of the power profiles of auxiliary engines and boilers, and inclusion of methanol and ammonia as shipping fuels. These updates were made using emission factors obtained from the SCIPPER project.
A high-resolution shipping emission dataset for the year 2018 covering the European region was produced using the refined STEAM model. This dataset was created as a reference case to analyze different future scenarios in the project.
Furthermore, eight scenarios estimated the impact of shipping emissions in 2030 and 2050, exploring different marine traffic developments, emission control technologies, and alternative fuels. These scenarios will be used in multiple work packages for atmospheric and water modeling, case studies, and cost-efficient mitigation analysis.
COVID-19 and technical upgrades caused unexpected delays in Work Packages 3, 4, and 5, which will impact also Work Packages 6 and 7. Despite these challenges, water and air quality modeling progressed well, and ecotoxicological studies revealed negative impacts of scrubber effluent. This information is crucial for discussions about scrubber technology and environmental regulation.
The first Scientific and Advisory Board meeting was difficult to coordinate due to time zone differences, so members were engaged individually via email. Additionally, the third General Assembly occurred online, and SAB members were invited to provide feedback, but few attended. The EMERGE project website is constantly updated with new publications, progress updates, job openings, and event information. Six newsletters and three press releases have been successfully delivered and are available on the website and social media.
Within M1-M36, 20 peer-reviewed articles have been published, including 7 during the current reporting period (M19-M36). Several papers are also currently in review or preparation. Moreover, project partners have participated in international conferences, seminars, workshops, and presentations specifically on EMERGE. EMERGE has also been presented to undergraduate and graduate students and EMERGE partners have actively participated in clustering and synergistic activities with relevant EU initiatives, as detailed in WP8.
We created a database for scrubber discharge water, identifying PAHs and metals as the primary pollutants. Updated shipping emission factors were collected and organized into a structured database for use in oceanic models. Our team developed a new ocean chemistry module in OpenDrift and improved chemical transport models for regional air quality evaluation. We revised our project measurement campaign plans, including equipment, measurements, and sampling protocols, due to the pandemic. To broaden our scope, we obtained discharge samples from similar projects across Europe.
We engaged stakeholders to collect their experiences on emission control technologies, and developed various communication and dissemination efforts, such as logos, flyers, press releases, etc.
EMERGE held its kick-off meeting at IIASA in Laxenburg, Austria from February 24-26, 2020. The first stakeholder workshop was held online on March 11, 2021, and the second General Assembly was held online on March 11-12, 2021.
In the second reporting period, the STEAM model was extended to include ambient effects on ship's fuel consumption and emissions. Marine and climate data from Copernicus data services were used. The model was also refined to predict fuel consumption and emissions using methanol and MGO as fuel. The updates aim to improve the model's accuracy compared to EU MRV mechanism fuel reports.
The STEAM model was improved by updating scrubber water discharge rates, global scrubber installations, and scrubber ban areas. Emission factors for NOx, CO, CO2, SOx, and components of PM were also revised. Other improvements include the revision of the power profiles of auxiliary engines and boilers, and inclusion of methanol and ammonia as shipping fuels. These updates were made using emission factors obtained from the SCIPPER project.
A high-resolution shipping emission dataset for the year 2018 covering the European region was produced using the refined STEAM model. This dataset was created as a reference case to analyze different future scenarios in the project.
Furthermore, eight scenarios estimated the impact of shipping emissions in 2030 and 2050, exploring different marine traffic developments, emission control technologies, and alternative fuels. These scenarios will be used in multiple work packages for atmospheric and water modeling, case studies, and cost-efficient mitigation analysis.
COVID-19 and technical upgrades caused unexpected delays in Work Packages 3, 4, and 5, which will impact also Work Packages 6 and 7. Despite these challenges, water and air quality modeling progressed well, and ecotoxicological studies revealed negative impacts of scrubber effluent. This information is crucial for discussions about scrubber technology and environmental regulation.
The first Scientific and Advisory Board meeting was difficult to coordinate due to time zone differences, so members were engaged individually via email. Additionally, the third General Assembly occurred online, and SAB members were invited to provide feedback, but few attended. The EMERGE project website is constantly updated with new publications, progress updates, job openings, and event information. Six newsletters and three press releases have been successfully delivered and are available on the website and social media.
Within M1-M36, 20 peer-reviewed articles have been published, including 7 during the current reporting period (M19-M36). Several papers are also currently in review or preparation. Moreover, project partners have participated in international conferences, seminars, workshops, and presentations specifically on EMERGE. EMERGE has also been presented to undergraduate and graduate students and EMERGE partners have actively participated in clustering and synergistic activities with relevant EU initiatives, as detailed in WP8.
EMERGE will comprehensively assess the impacts of shipping on all European sea regions, including marine environments and the atmosphere. The project will construct scenarios for the application of emission control technologies and analyze their implications, surpassing the current state of the art in terms of comprehensiveness and abatement measures. The results will be cost-effective and have a positive impact on industry, civil society, and governmental users. The consortium developed a harmonized protocol for scrubber water toxicity analysis, providing valuable information for marine biota protection in vulnerable regions.
Scenarios for emission control technologies will be constructed and analyzed for their implications, surpassing the current state of the art. The results will positively impact stakeholders and future regulatory measures for sustainable marine areas. The consortium has developed a harmonized protocol for scrubber water toxicity analysis, providing valuable information for marine biota protection. Stakeholder views have been considered throughout the project, with extensive communication with organizations and agencies in the sustainable shipping and marine environment areas.
Scenarios for emission control technologies will be constructed and analyzed for their implications, surpassing the current state of the art. The results will positively impact stakeholders and future regulatory measures for sustainable marine areas. The consortium has developed a harmonized protocol for scrubber water toxicity analysis, providing valuable information for marine biota protection. Stakeholder views have been considered throughout the project, with extensive communication with organizations and agencies in the sustainable shipping and marine environment areas.