All types of combustion lead to the formation of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), which are collectively referred to as nitrogen oxides (NOx). The formation is further boosted if the process involves high temperatures, which is one way of improving energy efficiency in a combustion engine. That means that the development of more efficient engines with lower levels of fuel consumption often results in an increase in nitrogen oxide emissions.
Shipping is responsible for an unproportionally large part of the NOx-emissions. EU calculations show that between the years 2000 and 2020, Nitrogen oxide emissions on shore will fall by 49 per cent while emissions from the shipping industry will increase by 67 per cent.
With this development, shipping emissions will exceed the total emissions of shore-based industries by 2020 if nothing is done. The reason for this development is while tougher laws are being adopted on shore, shipping is at a standstill. Even though the legislation for NOx-emissions from shipping have been tightened, it focuses on newbuildings rather than existing vessels. As a result it will take a long time before we see any change.
Read about our solutions within nitrogen oxides