The ETA held its Sustainable Conference in Rotterdam during the Europort Convention. The event focused on the potential use of Low-energy nuclear reactors (LENR) in the towage industry as a possible solution to green the fleets and reduce the emissions. These reactors could be installed on large tugs to drive their engines.
ETA chairman Alberto Dellepiane opened the conference affirming that “there is more interest in green tugs with electric power and alternative fuels, but all of the technology has issues and are not yet ready”, in addition to this, he said that in the industry there is a “need to explore clean energy, including through nuclear options”.
Nick Lambert, Director NLA International, outlined the many challenges the different players in the blue economy need to address in order to make a transition from linear, unsustainable and extractive economic models to a regenerative one, a new model that builds on and enhance the natural capital afforded by the marine environment and creates the conditions for sustainable and rewarding legal maritime activities.
Claudia Gasparrini from Associazione Italiana Nucleare set the scene by presenting various nuclear technologies that have been used in shipping and the different types of small modular reactors that are currently being developed and tested and that could be adapted to the needs of the industry.
Haslen Back from ENG8 presented its recently developed LENR fusion units that could fit in a 20-ft container and produce 5 MW of power to drive steam-powered engines and produce hydrogen and oxygen for combustion engines or fuel cells. These units are being tested and the company expects to receive class approval soon.
ABS senior engineer Minas Diacakis stated that these new nuclear technologies would initially require technical feasibility studies, concept verification, operational qualification, prototype validation, system integration and technical qualification. But he also signalled his hope for such innovative technologies to become a feasible reality in the next few years, and he expected that regulations and guidelines will follow suit.
Finally, Fabrizio Petrucci from Prometheus presented its LNR unit that is still in development and that “only uses water and electricity with no combustion or radioactive emissions.” This reactor would use peak pressure to generate kinetic energy, move pistons and turbines, and produce hydrogen that could be used for other purposes.
You can find all the presentations by clicking on the speakers’ names.
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