Navigating the Waves of Change: Sweden ́s Journey towards Electrification in Maritime Shipping
Typ
Examensarbete på kandidatnivå
Bachelor Thesis
Bachelor Thesis
Program
Publicerad
2022
Författare
Knaving, Sebastian
Nilsen, Lukas
Modellbyggare
Tidskriftstitel
ISSN
Volymtitel
Utgivare
Sammanfattning
Electrification is the modern way to achieve greater sustainability, whether it's applied to cars, trucks,
or trains. However, in terms of maritime transportation, it has not yet progressed to the same level as
other modes of transportation within the logistical network. This study was conducted in Gothenburg,
the Swedish capital of industry, which serves as an excellent starting point due to the large number of
shipping companies in the area. The purpose of this study was to understand why companies have
chosen electrification, envision the future of electrification, explore incentives for transitioning to it,
and identify the main obstacles that need to be overcome for its widespread adoption in the future. The
study was limited to interviewing Swedish-based companies, as their offices are near Chalmers
University in Gothenburg. By employing qualitative research methodology by surveys interviews, the
study revealed that the most significant problem with electrification is the lack of incentives from the
state, such as subsidies, tax returns, or other financial benefits for transitioning to electric power.
Regulatory bodies like the International Maritime Organization (IMO), the European Union (EU), and
the Swedish government have not kept pace with the rules and regulations concerning electrification,
leading to considerable uncertainty regarding the use of electrical power today. Additionally, the lack
of functional and expensive infrastructure has further complicated the transition to electric power.
Although these issues are expected to be resolved in a near future, most of the maritime logistical
network will not fully embrace electric propulsion due to the limited energy storage capacity of
batteries and the impracticality of using batteries for longer voyages, given their total weight and size
requirements.
Beskrivning
Ämne/nyckelord
Electrification , Regulatory instances , Batteries , Infrastructure , Logistical network , IMO , EU