Record-breaking rainfall and heatwaves. Climate change has become so palpable that we can feel it in our everyday lives.

It is directly evident. Temperature? Referred to as the global warming threshold, the 1.5-degree benchmark.

What is this 1.5-degree benchmark? Triggered by industrialization and fossil fuel emissions that started to increase since the late 19th century.

The global average temperature is now 1.5 degrees higher. If we surpass this 1.5-degree benchmark,

then Earth will inevitably head towards becoming irreversibly hotter, with high temperatures appearing globally. 2024, the hottest year on record... '1.5-degree line' first breached. This year's average global temperature

is projected to exceed pre-industrial levels by more than 1.5 degrees for the first time.

Warnings are now being issued. Our time is running out. Yet, there is still hope. To maximize our time left

and to protect the Earth, many people are actively working. Today, we'll explore the technologies their efforts have produced,

focusing on innovations over the sea. Considering that oceans cover 70% of the Earth, they have a high heat capacity and density, and contain vast amounts of heat.

Yet, it's also true that they emit significant greenhouse gases and carbon emissions. More than 90% of the world's trade by volume is shipped via sea.

Annually, the sea is responsible for emitting one billion tons of carbon dioxide. Therefore, the International Maritime Organization (IMO)

aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. International Maritime Organization (IMO) sets a 'Net-Zero' greenhouse gas emissions target for 2050. Setting a zero emissions target for the maritime industry

by implementing policies for reaching 'net zero'. Ships navigating the seas must now adopt carbon-reducing technologies.

Today's TechNote focuses on solutions for decarbonizing the ocean. Oh Seung-hoon's TechNote.

The only key to preserving our ocean's future! Marine decarbonization solutions. The first essential for a carbon emission-free sea is

Ships running on eco-friendly fuel. Typically, these ships use internal combustion engines. Internal combustion diesel engines convert reciprocating motion into rotational motion. Diesel engines

While turbines solely perform rotational movements. Diesel engines and turbines. Until now, diesel engines and gas turbines have been the norm

Being fossil fuel-based, they inevitably emit carbon dioxide and other pollutants. Ammonia gas turbines. You might first think of the strong smell of restrooms,

Ammonia, a compound of nitrogen and hydrogen. Ammonia does not emit carbon dioxide when combusted

Unlike hydrocarbon-based fossil fuels. Ammonia is a material formed from nitrogen and hydrogen, and it is not easily flammable.

It must be burned in the confined space of a cylinder, necessitating the combustion of ammonia. Creating suitable conditions for ammonia to burn effectively

requires the use of pilot oil. Fuel: pilot oil. This pilot oil, essentially just oil, necessitates the use of fossil fuels.

Burning it inevitably results in carbon emissions. However, carbon-free ammonia gas turbines have been structurally designed

to operate without pilot oil, allowing them to directly combust ammonia. Ammonia itself can also act as a fuel

without requiring additional processing. Hanwha Ocean has indeed implemented these technologies in their LNG carriers. These vessels utilize an ammonia gas turbine-based electric propulsion system,

making it possible to propel without fossil fuels, earning recognition as a prime alternative in the 'net zero' era.

Known as zero-emission gas carriers, planned to be fully developed by 2025. Ultimately, the major task is to develop eco-friendly propulsion systems.

However, practically speaking, given that ships typically operate for 20 to 30 years, immediate solutions are also needed to reduce carbon on existing vessels.

This presents a significant challenge. So, technologies aimed at progressively reducing carbon emissions are being vigorously developed. What do you think this looks like?

Though it resembles a chimney, this cylindrical structure is actually a sail. Traditional sails harness wind power to propel ships forward.

Much like a large piece of fabric, South Korea's first eco-friendly rotor sail, ROTOR + SAIL,

Rotor sails were first developed in the early 1900s, quite some time ago. Initially, they were noisy and caused significant vibration.

Despite being highly efficient, they lacked the thrust needed for primary propulsion. However, with the increasing demand for carbon reduction

and continuous research to solve these problems, they are being reconsidered as a decarbonization method. The rotor sail developed by Hanwha Ocean

stands 25–35 meters tall—a massive cylindrical structure comparable in height to a 12-story building.

The rotor sail consists primarily of a fixed internal tower and an external cylindrical rotor. The larger the diameter of the cylinder, the greater the lift generated.
Diameter ↑
Lift: A mechanical force acting perpendicular to the direction of fluid flow.

The principle that generates lift is the Magnus effect. When the wind comes in like this, if the cylinder stays still,

the flow of air above and behind the cylinder would be the same. But if this elongated cylinder rotates,

the top of the cylinder moves with the direction of the air, so the air on top moves faster; and at the back, the bottom part of the cylinder moves

in the opposite direction to the airflow, creating resistance as if colliding, and ultimately the airflow slows down. This makes it seem like there is more air at the back,

resulting in higher pressure.
Low pressure
High pressure at the back than the top, creating an upward lift force.
Lift

This same principle is used in the curveball in baseball and the banana kick in soccer. When wind hits the side of the ship,

the cylinder rotates, harnessing the pressure difference to generate propulsion. This propulsion helps reduce fuel consumption; thus, it's a method for reducing carbon emissions by consuming less fuel.

Actually, by installing rotor sails on ships, fuel consumption can be reduced by about 6 to 8%.

Wing sails
Kite sails
Source: YouTube. These can be applied to various ship designs.

And since they look like cylindrical chimneys, they offer the advantage of relatively simple installation. Wind-assisted ship propulsion… 'Rotor Sail Demonstration Center' breaks ground in Geoje (Geoje = Yonhap News) Reporter Lee Jun-young: On the 25th, Geoje City in Gyeongsangnam-do held a groundbreaking ceremony next to Hanwha Ocean Plaza in Okpo-dong for the construction of a ship wind propulsion aid device (rotor sail) demonstration center. South Korea is currently the first in the world

to construct a rotor sail demonstration center. Advancing beyond the era when sails harnessed the wind and through the era when marine engine technology

allowed ships to move against the wind, we're now revisiting the use of wind-powered sails, which had been absent for some time

due to the contemporary need for carbon neutrality. Next up is a system that uses air to reduce the frictional resistance of ships,

known as the air lubrication system. It works by releasing air from the underside of the ship, between the hull and the seawater,

to create an air layer that reduces resistance. As the ship moves forward, it must overcome the resistance of the water.

This creates friction between the water and the ship’s surface. Air lubrication technology generates bubbles that
Source: YouTube

are continuously delivered under the ship’s surface, spreading bubbles across the submerged parts of the hull. These bubbles effectively create a smooth layer,

drastically reducing the area of direct contact between the ship’s rough surface and the seawater. This reduces the drag from the seawater

on the advancing hull, ultimately saving the fuel and energy required for propulsion. This technology has garnered significant interest among shipbuilders.

Focusing on ship carbon capture and storage technology. One popular method uses a compound called 'amine' for capturing and storing carbon.

Amines are nitrogen-containing organic compounds.
Amine: Refers to organic compounds where a hydrogen atom in ammonia is replaced with an alkyl group from hydrocarbons.

They possess properties that allow them to bond with carbon dioxide in liquid form.
Source: YouTube  This feature enables them to capture carbon.

Using this property, they can capture carbon dioxide and subsequently convert it into a liquid state for storage.
Liquid carbon dioxide.

To facilitate this, exhaust gases must be cooled to a temperature suitable for the amine to absorb carbon dioxide.
Exhaust gases.

Initially, the emitted exhaust gases are directed to a cooling tower. Once the gas reaches near room temperature,

it is transferred to the absorption unit where the amine in the unit captures the carbon dioxide. 

Afterwards, the depleted exhaust gas is expelled into the atmosphere. Heating the amine that captured carbon dioxide causes

the amine and carbon dioxide to separate. The amine is then recycled back into the absorption unit

to capture additional carbon dioxide. The separated carbon dioxide is compressed and liquefied,

then either stored or transported for use. 

These carbon capture devices are widely used in terrestrial facilities such as factories. However, implementing them on ships

requires space for the equipment as well as for storing the captured carbon dioxide. These factors must be considered from the initial design phase of the ships,

which also increases the overall weight of the vessel. Furthermore, there are challenges regarding the eco-friendly and cost-effective disposal of the captured carbon.

Ongoing research is addressing these issues, and it is expected that in the near future these technologies will become commonplace at sea.

Various marine eco-friendly technologies are currently being developed and enhanced. These innovations aim to protect the Earth while navigating the oceans.

By developing a range of next-generation technologies to reduce carbon emissions, the goal is to eventually create 100% carbon-free ships

as part of our efforts to preserve our beautiful blue planet. Supported by numerous researchers who are dedicated to this cause,

these efforts continue to gain momentum in the scientific community. Oh Seung-hoon's TechNote
Producer: Jae Il Son
Directed by: Eden Im, Kyung Ah Yuk, Ji Ye Jung, Jeong Woo Kim
Written by: Chae Won Park
Filming: Nomadmusic
Lighting/Sound: Nomadmusic
Design: Jin Sun Seol, Miso Kim, Jiwon Choi
Featuring: Oh Seung-hoon

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