The Maritime Sector’s Carbon Challenge and how to address it
Marine shipping plays a vital role in the world economy, transporting 90% of global trade by volume. However, it is also a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, with vessels responsible for approximately 2.5% of global CO2 emissions. If this sector were a country, it would be the sixth-largest polluter in the world. The pressure to decarbonize this industry is immense, with regulatory bodies and businesses alike setting ambitious targets to reduce emissions by 40% by 2030. As 85% of maritime emissions are generated by propulsion systems, there is an urgent need for sustainable solutions to replace polluting engines on ships and boats.
Despite this clear need for change, transitioning to zero-emission maritime propulsion presents transition challenges. Fossil-fuel engines that are difficult and costly to replace. Ship owners are seeking long-range, reliable, and affordable alternatives that can reduce their environmental impact while keeping operating costs low. Additionally, new propulsion systems must be reliable and easy to integrate into existing maritime infrastructures to ensure widespread adoption. Without affordable, scalable, and easy-to-install solutions, the industry risks falling behind its emissions reduction targets.
Ecomar Propulsion: Pioneering Clean Propulsion for a Sustainable Future
Ecomar Propulsion is at the forefront of tackling this issue with its zero-emission propulsion and energy storage systems for commercial maritime vessels. The company’s high-performance electric and hybrid hydrogen propulsion systems offer a fuel-agnostic solution that can be used on ships and boats of all kinds. These systems are pre-integrated for easy installation, reducing the costs and complexities of retrofitting existing vessels. Additionally, all Ecomar products are designed with sustainability in mind, featuring 94% recyclable components and minimal environmental impact throughout their lifecycle.
Ecomar’s activities are centred around the development of two modular product lines:
- ARKA: Outboard engines designed for small-sized workboats.
- KAIROS: Inboard engines suited for larger vessels.
Ecomar’s products cater to the commercial maritime sector, but they are also well-suited for leisure applications, expanding their market potential. By developing turnkey solutions that are both reliable and cost-effective, Ecomar is helping ship owners meet the urgent need for decarbonization, without the need for massive capital projects or overhauls of existing fleets.
Greenbackers Investment Capital is pleased to introduce Ecomar Propulsion, a disruptive provider of emission-free electric and hybrid propulsion systems, helping commercial maritime operations reduce their environmental footprint and operating costs.
Why Ecomar Propulsion?
- Innovative technology: Ecomar Propulsion creates reliable, long-range, affordable, and fuel-agnostic propulsion systems that reduce emissions, costs, and environmental impact for vessels up to 50m or 5000 tonnes. Their electric and hybrid systems are pre-integrated for easy installation and are adaptable to hydrogen, battery, or methanol fuels. All products are 94% recyclable and audited for whole lifecycle emissions.
- Commercial traction: Ecomar Propulsion has an £8m R&D grant and angel funding to date, with a strong sales pipeline of over £70m generated from industry contacts and word of mouth. Revenue generation began in 2022, and the company is at TRL7, having exhibited at a single trade show that resulted in 44 potential distributor agreements.
- Market potential: With increasing regulatory pressure on the maritime industry to cut emissions, the demand for Ecomar Propulsion’s zero-emission propulsion systems is expected to soar. The company is already receiving strong interest from commercial ship owners and shipyards looking to transition to greener technologies.
- De-risked investment: Ecomar Propulsion’s technology is proven and validated, with a prototype model deployed in operational environments. The company has built a solid supply chain for the next steps and is actively pursuing partnerships with key industry players to scale up production and meet the growing demand for clean maritime propulsion solutions.
Investment Snapshot:
- Type: Seed Round
- Target amount: : £2m
For further information or to speak with Ecomar Propulsion directly contact:
Annika Borrmann at [email protected]
