Reducing carbon emissions from recreational craft does not have a single solution

A combination of various technologies is the key to reducing carbon emissions from boats: this is the main conclusion of the Pathways to Propulsion Decarbonisation for the Recreational Marine Industry report, based on the study carried out by ICOMIA on marine propulsion.

The International Council of Marine Industry Associations-ICOMIA, the highest organization representing the world marine industry, of which ANEN is a member and of which it holds the presidency of the ICOMIA Sustainability Committee, presented the Pathways to Propulsion Decarbonisation for the Recreational Marine Industry Report during the international marine equipment fair (METS TRADE).

The report, which was announced during the last ANEN Nautical Congress, is the result of research, commissioned by ICOMIA to the world's leading engineering consultancy, Ricardo plc, and whose objective is to promote decarbonisation in the recreational marine industry, offering guidance on the most appropriate technologies to use in achieving this goal. The report also seeks to guide collaboration between global governments and recreational boating companies, engine manufacturers, suppliers and distributors.

Among the key findings of the report, recreational boating accounts for 0.1%i of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, specifically 0.7%ii of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from transport in the United States and 0.4%iii of CO2 emissions from transport in Europe. 

To put this data into context, 46%iv of emissions are generated by energy supply to households and industry, and 14%v by global transport. Beyond these figures, the recreational boating sector remains committed to leading conservation efforts that protect the natural marine environment and to identifying ways to expand their collective efforts. 

The study presented by ICOMIA focuses on propulsion technologies on recreational craft under 24 meters in length. 

The impact of alternative propulsion on the prices of recreational craft of the future, compared to today, is expected to increase by between 5% and 250%, depending on the technology used, until alternatives reach market scale.

Given the diversity of recreational boating types and the variety of experiences sought by users, the research reveals that there is no universal, one-size-fits-all approach to decarbonising recreational boating and a portfolio of technologies must be considered, including:  

- Sustainable alternative fuels are expected to be the most suitable energy source to reduce decarbonisation in recreational boating by up to 90% by 2035.

- Hydrogen, an emerging technology, provided its production process is optimised and if produced by electrolysis without using electricity from fossil fuels, can reduce carbon emissions from certain categories of boats and especially for certain specific uses. 

- Hybrid boats using both electric and internal combustion engines powered by liquid fuels offer the potential to reduce carbon emissions from boats in certain scenarios: rental and other heavy use environments.

- Today's electric propulsion, if exclusively electric, can be an alternative for specific use cases. It specifically can be an alternative for boats with high frequencies of use, such as rental boats and jet skis intended for commercial use. In boats with low frequency of use, they are unlikely to reduce GHG emissions compared to the reference internal combustion engine, because the carbon footprint generated in the manufacturing phase is not offset throughout the use phase.

A Life Cycle Analysis with a holistic view from design and manufacture to the end of life of the vessels is essential to reduce carbon emissions, as the supply chain of materials and their energy consumption generates a significant amount of CO2.

R&D and technological advances are necessary to make new and alternative technologies competitive in terms of range, performance, price and CO2 emissions.

To continue the challenge of decarbonisation, the marine sector will continue to promote the use of neutral technologies in marine environments, accelerating the development and distribution of sustainable marine fuels, as well as education campaigns for users to support the adoption of these new fuels. 

The marine industry will promote the extension of support and tax credits for R&D investments to improve the density of electric batteries and hydrogen research that can be applied to the marine environment.