Conference Paper

Developing a Strategy for LNG Powered Transport Corridors in the Baltic Sea Region

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Abstract

International and national policies and regulations call for faster transition to sustainable energy production and use. Within the shipping industry one way forward is the use of LNG. Despite being of fossil origin LNG is considered to be an important step towards cleaner shipping given the better properties of the exhausts. This paper will present the development of a strategy for smoother and more efficient use of LNG as a fuel for transport in the Baltic Sea Region, with the aim to enable blue transport corridors in the region. This will be done by investigating transport flows, LNG infrastructure developments, and by also including a wider value chain that incorporates all transport modalities as well as industries that today use natural gas. The strategy will further provide LNG stakeholders with a knowledge base on policies and regulation as well as on technological standards, and describe well-functioning solutions and business models already present in the transport sector.

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... Apart from such efforts, further challenges of supply chain management and the logistics sector currently refer especially to environmental and sustainability issues (e.g., IMO regulations: Global Sulphur Cap 2020, Emission Control Areas like SECAs and NECAs), as well as transportinduced growth and infrastructure developments (e.g., TEN-T in Europe, Silk Road 2.0 in Asia) (Gerlitz et al., 2018;Henesey & Philipp, 2019;Madjidian et al., 2017;Philipp et al., 2020aPhilipp et al., & b, 2019a. Nonetheless, in particular, the technological progress associated with the Industry 4.0 paradigm is often regarded as the savior for managing these contemporary, as well as evergreen challenges in the context of logistics and especially supply chain management that are related to the dominating position of bigger players, establishment of trust and relationships between the different actors, fragmented structures, supply chain finance and leadtime as well as throughput (Beth et al., 2003;Nyhuis & Wiendahl, 2008;Philipp, 2020a;Philipp et al., 2020bPhilipp et al., , 2019bPhilipp et al., & 2019cPrause & Hunke, 2014;Zhao & Huchzermeier, 2018). ...
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... The third option is to switch to other alternative sources of fuel such as Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), methanol or hydrogen cells. These alternative fuels are being considered for future solutions to meet the SECA requirements Henesey & Philipp, 2019;Madjidian et al., 2017;Philipp et al., 2018). The investigations of Olaniyi, Atari and Prause (2018) in the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) revealed that most of the ships are switching to the use of low sulphur fuel because it removes the hassles of capital compliance investments. ...
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Since the introduction of the amended Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECA) regulations in 2015, the Baltic Sea has witnessed high compliance rate. However, a closer look to the experiences in the Baltic Sea reveals that the currently preferred compliance strategies depend on low oil price, where ship owners shun investments in abatement and maritime energy efficiency technologies, which may lead into an economic trap in the event of oil price increase. The research considers incentive provisions for maritime investors who make investment decisions related to clean shipping and maritime energy management against the background of the Global Sulphur Cap, which just entered into force at the beginning of this year 2020. Traditionally, the financial assessments of these decisions are based on capital budgeting methods comprising cash flow analyses and net present value calculations. The findings reveal that a Real Option approach represents a more realistic, reliable and promising method for the evaluation of abatement and energy efficiency projects, especially under uncertainty and high volatility in material resource markets. The results can be applied to the assessment of all types of projects in the maritime industry that depends on the price variation of the underlying asset during a specific period.
... Accordingly, LNG has been recognised as one of transitional measures, alternative strategies and business opportunities in maritime shipping and the entire transportation and energy system (Gerlitz et al., 2017). Moreover, it is argued that LNG is the most promising alternative shipping fuel technology in the short to medium term, especially for Short Sea Shipping and inland waterway transport (Madjidian, 2017). Nevertheless, especially in Europe, the needed LNG infrastructure is still in creation and causes high investment costs especially in ports (Philipp et al., 2018). ...
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... In this context, LNG is regarded as one of the most promising alternative strategies and business opportunities in maritime shipping as well as the entire transportation and energy system. Accordingly, LNG issues had been recently researched from the clean shipping [37] and strategic development perspective for a LNG powered transport corridor in the BSR [31]. Yet, no recent studies record approaches on LNG use as opportunity and value proposition leading towards emerging value chains that integrate different transport modes and business sectors, and where LNG is recognised as value proposition for all stakeholders involved. ...
Chapter
Since the introduction of lower sulphur content with no more than 0.10% in the Sulphur Emission Control Areas (SECAs) from 1 January 2015, the Baltic Sea Region (BSR) is increasingly becoming subject to search for new economically and environmentally competitive and survival strategies. The BSR stands for a flagship maritime region in Europe in terms of good economic, social and environmental performance. In order to sustain, and much more important, to improve the overall eco-system performance of the BSR, Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) has been recognised as one of transitional measures, alternative strategies and business opportunities in maritime shipping and the entire transportation and energy system. LNG might become a viable stepping-stone alternative solution for business, and be considered as a regulation-driven demand to comply with environmental regulations that aim to achieve the goals set by 2020–2050. As a response, ‘Go LNG’ ERDF part-financed INTERREG V project aims at reducing technological, knowledge and business gaps by providing operational and strategic approach. In line with project, the present study aims to answer the research question how to integrate LNG stakeholders involved in diverse LNG activities, with different needs, capacities and capabilities into one macro-regional transport and energy supply and value chain.
... In this context, LNG is regarded as one of the most promising alternative strategies and business opportunities in maritime shipping as well as the entire transportation and energy system. Accordingly, LNG issues had been recently researched from the clean shipping [37] and strategic development perspective for a LNG powered transport corridor in the BSR [31]. Yet, no recent studies record approaches on LNG use as opportunity and value proposition leading towards emerging value chains that integrate different transport modes and business sectors, and where LNG is recognised as value proposition for all stakeholders involved. ...
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