[{"command":"openDialog","selector":"#drupal-modal","settings":null,"data":"\u003Cdiv id=\u0022republish_modal_form\u0022\u003E\u003Cform class=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form ecl-form\u0022 data-drupal-selector=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 action=\u0022\/en\/article\/modal\/10025\u0022 method=\u0022post\u0022 id=\u0022modal-form-example-modal-form\u0022 accept-charset=\u0022UTF-8\u0022\u003E\u003Cp\u003EHorizon articles can be republished for free under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) licence.\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EYou must give appropriate credit. We ask you to do this by:\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 1) Using the original journalist\u0027s byline\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 2) Linking back to our original story\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n 3) Using the following text in the footer: This article was originally published in \u003Ca href=\u0027#\u0027\u003EHorizon, the EU Research and Innovation magazine\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003ESee our full republication guidelines \u003Ca href=\u0027\/horizon-magazine\/republish-our-stories\u0027\u003Ehere\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cp\u003EHTML for this article, including the attribution and page view counter, is below:\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cdiv class=\u0022js-form-item form-item js-form-type-textarea form-item-body-content js-form-item-body-content ecl-form-group ecl-form-group--text-area form-no-label ecl-u-mv-m\u0022\u003E\n \n\u003Cdiv\u003E\n \u003Ctextarea data-drupal-selector=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 aria-describedby=\u0022edit-body-content--description\u0022 id=\u0022edit-body-content\u0022 name=\u0022body_content\u0022 rows=\u00225\u0022 cols=\u002260\u0022 class=\u0022form-textarea ecl-text-area\u0022\u003E\u003Ch2\u003EAirports and harbours prepare to slash emissions as the greening of transport accelerates\u003C\/h2\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIf the European Union is to meet its net-zero targets and become a climate-neutral economy by 2050, the transport industry needs to decarbonise\u0026nbsp;\u2013 and quickly.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EInternational aviation and maritime \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/climate.ec.europa.eu\/eu-action\/climate-strategies-targets\/2050-long-term-strategy_en\u0022\u003Etransport could account for almost 40% of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions\u003C\/a\u003E by mid-century. Due to increasing demand for freight shipping and air travel, GHG discharges from ships and planes in particular continue to rise.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EIn the push to mitigate human-made climate change, both industries are looking to new low-carbon energy sources such as hydrogen and electrification.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EWhile much attention is paid to \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/research-and-innovation\/en\/horizon-magazine\/green-aviation-takes-wing-electric-aircraft-designs\u0022\u003Ecleaner planes\u003C\/a\u003E, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/research-and-innovation\/en\/horizon-magazine\/emissions-free-sailing-full-steam-ahead-ocean-going-shipping\u0022\u003Eboats and ships\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;being developed, perhaps an even bigger industrial challenge is creating the infrastructure that ports and airports will need to produce, store and pump the low-emission fuels.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EAirports have much to do in order to prepare for this coming era, according to Fokko Kroesen, who is coordinating the \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cordis.europa.eu\/project\/id\/101036996\u0022\u003EEU-funded TULIPS project\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;exploring ways to reduce emissions at airports.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ENew fuels\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EAircraft manufacturers are investing in new fuel and propulsion technologies, but they will also expect airports to be ready to deliver these fuels, according to Kroesen, who is senior advisor on sustainability at the Royal Schiphol Group, which operates Schiphol and other airports in the Netherlands. The whole system will be very different from current kerosene-based provisions, he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThrough demonstrator projects at four airports, \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/tulips-greenairports.eu\/\u0022\u003ETULIPS\u0027s research\u003C\/a\u003E into innovative and sustainable airports will put new green technologies to the test. A roadmap to 2030 will then show airports the best ways to advance the low-carbon transition.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EResearch on supplying energy to aircraft is going in two directions, according to Kroesen. The first is sustainable aviation fuels produced from renewable feedstocks such as biomass, instead of petroleum. The second is energy supply for new aircraft that will be powered by technologies including batteries and hydrogen.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003EThe main challenge we see for sustainable aviation fuels is the scaling up in a sustainable way.\r\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EFokko Kroesen, TULIPS\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EBecause sustainable aviation fuels, or blended sustainable and conventional jet fuel, can be used in current planes, they can bridge the gap between today\u2019s aircraft and those of the future that run on completely different sources of energy. This is particularly important for providing lower carbon alternatives for intercontinental flights, as novel aircraft powered by hydrogen or batteries are likely to be able to travel only shorter distances initially.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EIt could take a long time to develop alternative propulsion methods for intercontinental flights, according to Kroesen.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u2018Therefore, we expect that sustainable aviation fuels are really needed to enable net zero-emission flights,\u2019 he said.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EAlso in the future, most airport ground-support vehicles will run on batteries. Some heavy equipment, such as the tractors used to tow aircraft around the tarmac, may even need to be powered by hydrogen as a result of their high energy demands.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EKroesen says this poses an infrastructure challenge for airports. At Schiphol in Amsterdam, he said, \u2018there is a growing demand for electricity and the current infrastructure is not sufficient to enable this.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EGreener airports\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EAs a result, the airport is investing in solar panels and other forms of renewable energy. The long-term aim is for the airport to produce more energy than it uses, said Kroesen. Developing a smart energy hub will help optimise the green electricity supply to deal with the competing demands from the various applications.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EAirports will also need to ensure reliable supplies of sustainable aviation fuels and hydrogen. TULIPS is exploring not only how airports can generate these fuels but also how new industries can be encouraged to produce and supply them.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ESustainable aviation fuels are generally produced from biomass. They have a similar chemical profile to conventional jet fuel produced from petroleum. While this means they can use the same storage and refuelling infrastructure at the airport, it doesn\u2019t mean that switching is simple.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003ETULIPS is looking at the cost and practicalities of sustainable aviation fuel, and how to develop effective incentives to stimulate its production and use. Ideally, production would take place near the airport.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018The main challenge we see for sustainable aviation fuels is the scaling up in a sustainable way\u0026nbsp;\u2013 and the limits of available production technologies and resources, or feedstocks, to produce these sustainable fuels,\u2019\u0026nbsp;said Kroesen.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EBeyond plants and plant waste, researchers are looking to create sustainable fuels from electricity, hydrogen and carbon captured from the air.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u2018That is very attractive because it is a type of circularity,\u2019 Kroesen said. \u2018We emit carbon dioxide, but immediately after emitting we will take it out of the air and, together with hydrogen, we can build new synthetic kerosene out of it.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EUnlike sustainable aviation fuel, hydrogen will require a whole new infrastructure for delivery, storage and refuelling. It cannot simply use the conventional jet fuel infrastructure.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EHydrogen is created when it is separated from water using electricity. If the energy used for this electrolysis comes from renewable sources, the resulting hydrogen is considered a green energy source. It will be possible to produce hydrogen at airports and in the locality in \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/ec.europa.eu\/research-and-innovation\/en\/horizon-magazine\/hydrogen-heads-home-challenge-oil-and-gas-local-energy-supply\u0022\u003Eso-called hydrogen valleys\u003C\/a\u003E \u2013 economic areas that produce locally consumed green hydrogen.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EIn the longer term, however, Kroesen says that such local production will not be enough to meet demand. This is due to a combination of factors, including the limited availability and cost of green electricity in some locations. This energy source will also face competing demands from other industries.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u2018We will probably see a mix of locally produced and also imported hydrogen, from areas that are richer in energy and poorer in demand,\u2019 Kroesen said.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESmart ports\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EArne-Jan Polman, at the Port of Rotterdam, said that preparing ports for the potential fuel mixes used by ships in the future is also a complex process.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cblockquote class=\u0022tw-text-center tw-text-blue tw-font-bold tw-text-2xl lg:tw-w-1\/2 tw-border-2 tw-border-blue tw-p-12 tw-my-8 lg:tw-m-12 lg:tw--ml-16 tw-float-left\u0022\u003E\n \u003Cspan class=\u0022tw-text-5xl tw-rotate-180\u0022\u003E\u201c\u003C\/span\u003E\n \u003Cp class=\u0022tw-font-serif tw-italic\u0022\u003E(We must move past) the traditional landlord role, (to become) more the developer of our surroundings, the director of the new energy landscape.\r\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n \u003Cfooter\u003E\n \u003Ccite class=\u0022tw-not-italic tw-font-normal tw-text-sm tw-text-black\u0022\u003EArne-Jan Polman, MAGPIE\u003C\/cite\u003E\n \u003C\/footer\u003E\n\u003C\/blockquote\u003E\n\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EEurope\u2019s largest seaport, Rotterdam is seeking to become carbon neutral by 2050. The port set up \u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/cordis.europa.eu\/project\/id\/101036594\u0022\u003Ethe EU-funded MAGPIE project\u003C\/a\u003E\u0026nbsp;to create a masterplan outline of how Rotterdam and its partner ports will become green by mid-century.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThe port will transform itself into a smart green port by improving current energy systems, developing a new greener energy system, switching to non-petroleum fuels and raw materials, and encouraging a shift to sustainable freight transport.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThe project\u2019s 45 partners intend to create an energy masterplan as inspiration for any of Europe\u2019s maritime and inland ports that want to go green.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EWhen it comes to fuels, MAGPIE is focusing on electricity, ammonia, hydrogen and a biofuel version of liquefied natural gas (bio-LNG).\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u2018We think that these four energy carriers will play a major role in the future,\u2019 Polman said. The port also sees an important role for methanol as a green fuel.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EAs with TULIPS, a large part of this is encouraging new energy supply chains while demonstrating technologies for creating biofuels and exploring fuel infrastructure and supply needs.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EDemonstrations by the project will include port-based bio-LNG production, ways proactively to manage power demand, ammonia bunkering (delivering the fuel to ships) and an offshore charging buoy.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESmart energy\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EPolman says that ports need to change how they see themselves.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u2018Not any more the traditional landlord role, but more the developer of our surroundings, the director of the new energy landscape, which means we are sort of facilitating the whole smart energy transition process,\u2019 he said. \u2018What we need to do is make sure the conditions are there for companies to invest in our port area.\u2019\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EAs with airports, there are other vehicles besides ships that need to plug into the energy supply. These are mainly short-shipping barges, trains and trucks that transport goods to and from the Port of Rotterdam from smaller regional hubs.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EMAGPIE will need to try to predict the future energy mix and work out how to prepare for it. But it is also just about getting these different fuels to a point of technological maturity where they can be used and are available for anyone that needs them, according to Polman.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\nAfter that, it is up to industry and the market to decide which direction they want to go and what to invest in. The ports just need to be ready.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003EThe port will need to speak to industry to see what it needs while making sure it attracts the right partners to meet its long-term energy goals, rather than short-term economic profitability. But it must also liaise with governmental bodies \u2013 from the EU to local municipalities \u2013 to develop permits, regulations and subsidies to stimulate industry growth.\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u003Cbr \/\u003E\n\u2018We need to build the landscape,\u2019 Polman said.\u003C\/p\u003E\n\n\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003EResearch in this article was funded by the EU. 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