Revolutionary technology for reducing CO₂ emissions in the maritime sector
Lugano-based Azra Advanced Materials AG, which specializes in highly energy-efficient marine coatings, has been added to the Swiss Technology Fund's portfolio. This recognition underscores the potential of Azra's technologies to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions from the global maritime sector, which accounts for around 3% of total global emissions.
More than 90% of international trade is carried out by sea. In 2022, maritime shipping generated around 858 million tons of CO₂. A significant proportion of these emissions is attributable to biofouling. This refers to the accumulation of organisms on ship hulls. This can increase fuel consumption by up to 40% and causes annual economic damage of over $30 billion. In addition, the continuous degradation of biocide-containing and silicone-based coatings during a ship's operating cycle leads to the additional release of toxic chemicals into the oceans.
Less friction with nano-coating
Azra's durable, ultra-low friction, biocide-free coating system, based on proprietary, patented nanotechnology, reduces hull friction and completely eliminates the use of silicone oils. It has been proven to release no toxic substances into the marine environment. At the same time, it ensures consistently high performance, lowers fuel consumption, and reduces CO₂ emissions. According to Azra Advanced Materials, the use of its coating has saved more than 20,000 tons of CO₂ since 2021. These results have been verified on commercial fleets worldwide, the company says.
In addition, the coating system supports broader sustainability goals. Azra's biocide-free formulation is fully compliant with IMO environmental requirements and contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 14 – Life below water. It contains no active substances that could harm marine ecosystems and makes a long-term contribution to protecting the health of the oceans.
Expanding presence in the international shipping sector
With the support of the Swiss Technology Fund, Azra Advanced Materials AG will be able to further expand its presence in the international shipping sector and accelerate the development and market launch of a new generation of superhydrophobic coating systems that further reduce friction on ship hulls. This supports global decarbonization efforts and contributes to further reducing CO₂ emissions. «With the support of the Swiss Technology Fund, we can further expand our presence in the shipping market and contribute to the decarbonization of the industry by reducing CO₂ emissions through sustainable, durable, and high-performance coatings that improve the efficiency of ships,» explains Azra Advanced Materials.
Source: https://www.azra-tech.com
This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/revolutionaere-technologie-zur-reduktion-von-co%E2%82%82-emissionen-im-maritimen-sektor/
