The shipping industry makes virtually any purchase possible. Whether you’re ordering supplies for a home renovation or investing in gardening tools, shipping experts bring those products from manufacturers to your doorstep. Green shipping options have been challenging to find in the past, but the industry is moving toward a sustainable future. Thanks to the latest innovations and trends in electric shipping, your future purchases can more closely align with your green values.
The Shipping Industry’s Traditional Reliance on Fossil Fuels
Fossil fuels have been the traditional foundation of the shipping industry. They power every form of transportation that moves goods around the world. Experts estimate that 90% of all trade happens through ocean shipping, which accounts for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions.
Those statistics don’t include the emissions created by gas-guzzling 18-wheelers and airplanes carrying goods. Both methods of transportation occur daily. Your local shops depend on people delivering goods from ships to loading docks to stores.
Fully transitioning to green energy will be a significant undertaking for the shipping industry. The good news is that progress is already underway.
How the Shipping Industry Is Utilizing Green Energy
The shipping industry is becoming more sustainable in several ways. The future improved health of our environment hinges on these trends continuing until they’re the predominant business practice across the shipping industry.
1. Vehicles Are Becoming Electric
Commercial fleets burn through fossil fuels every day. They take goods arriving by ships and planes directly to stores and customers. The transition to commercial electric trucks has been slow, but government buy-in is picking up. In 2022, the Inflation Reduction Act invested $1 billion into green alternatives for class 6 and 7 vehicles.
The investment happened alongside promising trends in battery development. Some commercial electric trucks can now travel up to 250 miles before their batteries require a full recharge, which is among the most mileage possible with existing green battery technology.
More goods are likely to arrive via green transportation as battery-powered fleets become more widely available and capable of handling longer trips.
2. Hydrogen Fuel Cells Are Powering Ships
Electric shipping goes beyond green batteries. The industry is also turning to other forms of carbon-neutral energy like hydrogen fuel cells. Global experts recommend switching to hydrogen fuel when electric batteries aren’t an option as an alternative sustainable energy source.
If you’re worried about relying on a natural element for future shipping needs, green energy experts have good news. There are numerous ways to tap into hydrogen fuel without harming the environment. Technologically advanced hydrogen fuel plants can pull the element from carbon gases and biomass. Electrolysis makes it possible to derive hydrogen from green energy generated by solar panels, wind turbines, and geothermal units.
It will take time for hydrogen fuel cells to become widespread in the shipping industry. The machinery needed to extract it is costly. Making batteries with enough internal pressure and effective containment materials also requires significant time and investment. The potential is there, but green energy advocates will have to wait and see how hydrogen evolves into a major fuel source for commercial fleets in the future.
3. Smaller Planes Can Use Electric Propulsion
You’ve likely heard about the environmental effects of air travel. People interested in eco-friendly lifestyles often discuss carbon-offsetting donations and traveling with airlines that donate to environmental charities. Whether carrying goods or passengers, planes cause the same fossil fuel emissions. The future of sustainable air travel comes down to the plane’s energy source.
Although commercial electric trucks are a focus for green energy enthusiasts, planes are also progressing, with smaller aircraft becoming an alternate electric shipping option. Researchers note that range, endurance, and limitation are the most pressing factors for developing more powerful batteries.
For now, only smaller planes with lighter loads can ship goods without burning fossil fuels. It might seem like there isn’t much progress, but consumers should remember the impact of fossil fuels on the environment. Since 1986, pipeline accidents have released an average of 200 barrels of oil daily. The resulting biome damage, carbon gas emissions, and harm to wildlife are just a few ways spilled oil harms the planet.
Any shift toward green energy is a step toward creating a healthier, safer place to live. Increased focus and advocacy for shipping industry electrification will lead manufacturers to invest money into the research necessary to improve carbon-neutral transportation technology.
Anticipate Sustainable Changes in Shipping
Leaders in the shipping industry understand their impact on the planet and the rising consumer demand for green energy in commercial transportation. Shipping trends will continue leaning toward carbon-neutral energy sources, but it will take time to develop the necessary technology. Keep an eye on future developments to track the industry’s progress. Your future purchases will become greener if demand remains steady and investments continue to pour into green energy research.
Jack Shaw is the senior Outdoors writer for Modded, a men’s lifestyle publication. An avid outdoorsman and lover of nature, he’ll often find himself taking retreats out to explore his environment and encourages others to do the same in ways that are sustainable and beneficial to the environment.
