The RNCZ project held three workshops to listen to the industry, in the North (Porto), the Lisbon Metropolitan Area (Lisbon) and the Algarve (Faro). These sessions made it possible to gather the opinions of the sector’s companies on decarbonization, as well as the challenges and opportunities related to the transition
The following conclusions will inform the Decarbonization Roadmap, in order to bring the document closer to the Portuguese industrial reality
Technology
The most relevant technologies for decarbonization in the short term in Portugal are:
- electric motors
- solar energy on building sites, for heating and electricity generation
- energy efficiency on operations
- onshore power supply in ports
- propulsion calculation programs
- hull optimization
- heat recuperation
- gas filtration
In the long term, fossil fuels will have to be replaced, since most GHG emissions are produced by the operation of ships. Replacing engines is a choice for shipowners, who are currently more focused on other aspects of improving their ships.
Energy supply
There is a lack of energy supply capacity and the responsibility cannot fall solely on the ports and shipyards, considering the age of the infrastructure and the shortage of space and funding. These entities are not in a position to create their own renewable energy infrastructure (such as solar panels), due to a lack of investment capacity or uncertainty about concession contracts. Thus, energy producers must take part in developing solutions
Although there are offshore energy production initiatives in Portugal, the value chain is still underdeveloped. The creation of energy communities can help companies overcome energy supply barriers and reduce costs, but it requires commitment from different stakeholders and joint investment.
Financing
Companies find it difficult to obtain financial support and manage the liquidity of their projects, given the delay in the payment of funds
There are also difficulties in accessing bank finance, as loans are often conditional on project approval or on the existence of internal resources to cover initial costs
Regulation
There is great difficulty in contacting public institutions, including the European Commission
Sustainability requirements are increasingly demanding (e.g. CSRD Directive) and can even affect access to funding.
The industry believes that European regulations are excessively restrictive and that there are no protective measures, leaving European companies weakened in the face of foreign competition
Partnerships
- Partnerships with ports and shipowners should contribute to the implementation of integrated decarbonization solutions
- It is necessary to establish a dialog with public entities at national, regional and sectoral level, in order to align regulations and public policies with the reality of the industry
- Collaborating with academia will speed up the implementation of innovative solutions
