Shipping’s new energy technology ecosystem – 2023

I published my first overview of shipping’s clean energy technologies at the end of 2021. A lot has changed since then, and decarbonisation has slowly but surely made its way to the top of the maritime agenda. I’ve been keeping tabs on the different technologies and companies that have been making waves in a dynamic, open-source database in the Ship Technologies section of this website.

Here is an updated, non-exhaustive, TRL-agnostic, 2023 overview of the industry’s new on-board hardware technology ecosystem. The top changes during the last 18 months are:

• The list has grown from 115 to 159 companies and now includes technologies that enable zero-emissions as well as net-zero operations with e-fuels.
• Some of the new additions just came to my attention after the first overview; others are fresh players jumping into the fray or seasoned maritime-tech denizens responding to market trends with new product announcements.
• The biggest growth has been in the number of companies working on:
  • Fuel cells in general, and PEM fuel cells (108%) in particular,
  • On-board emissions/carbon capture technologies (100%),
  • Ammonia-cracking and methanol-reforming technologies (100%), and
  • Lithium batteries (42%)
• Wind technologies, hydrofoils, and many other efficiency technologies suitable for different vessel types have gained visibility and traction.
• Various companies have taken their tech from feasibility studies and early prototypes into ship-scale installations or live demonstrations.

Do you know of any other company or technology that should be included here next time?
Let me know!