Valuable input at MRV-workshop

From 2018, ships over 5,000 GT (gross tonnes) sailing the waters around the EU have to report CO2 emissions and transport work. The data collected is called MRV data and stands for Monitoring, Reporting and Veryfying. Within the Lighthouse network, work is ongoing about how MRV data can be used by the maritime sector.

Lighthouse members, IVL The Swedish Environmental Institute and Chalmers, jointly conducts a preliminary study on the calculation of transport work and emissions in MRV. As part of the work, actors from research and industry gathered at a workshop on 17 June in IVL's premises in Gothenburg.

- The workshop went very well. There were stimulating discussions and clarifications about many questions about MRV, says Erik Fridell from IVL

The agenda for the day included an introduction to MRV and presentations on how to measure fuel consumption and calculate emissions for transport work. The discussions were about how to look at upstream emissions and other green-house gases, how to treat missing or bad data and whether there is a need for support on MRV in the maritime sector.

The discussions are an important part in the work with the Lighthouse pre-study, says Erik Fridell.

- The next step will be to complete our preliminary study. It will contain more details and examples for calculations of MRV data and discuss questions raised at the workshop.

The preliminary study, which will be published by Lighthouse after the summer, aims to answer how MRV data can be used by the maritime sector for the calculations of the environmental performance of shipping. The feasibility study's overall objective is to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and provide a better understanding of industry challenges around MRV.