China's maritime industry embraces green transformation

China State Shipbuilding Corporation (CSSC) unveiled its domestically produced "Qiyao" marine engine series at the expo, receiving the world's first type approval certificate for ship-use ammonia-hydrogen fuel engines from China Classification Society.

"We're observing a significant shift toward new energy power systems in ship orders," said Qiu Aihua, deputy director of CSSC's 711 research institute. "Power solutions now encompass LNG, methanol, ammonia, and hybrid systems with energy storage batteries, signaling the future of ship propulsion."

Wang Pu, designer at CSSC power, presented their latest high-power dual fuel engine which can achieve zero carbon emission when using green methanol. "This can be regarded as China's first domestically produced methanol dual-fuel main engine. It has already secured dozens of orders from major domestic shipyards, demonstrating market confidence in our green solutions."

The exhibition also featured innovative wind propulsion technologies. Heikki Pntynen, CEO of Norsepower, emphasized their practical impact: "Wind propulsion technology complements other energy-saving measures and alternative fuels, enhancing vessels' environmental performance while meeting IMO greenhouse gas requirements and regional regulations like the EU maritime fuel plan."

The shipping industry, if considered as an independent economic entity, would rank eighth globally in CO2 emissions, said Zhu Lei, professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University. "This underscores the sector's urgent need for green transformation."