Kim Dong-kwan, Vice Chairman of Hanwha Group, 'Electric Ship, Establishing a Clean Marine Ecosystem'

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Dong-kwan, vice chairman of Hanwha Group, emphasized the need to build a clean marine ecosystem.

Kim Dong-kwan, vice chairman of Hanwha Group, proposed the establishment of an "electric propulsion ship marine ecosystem" that will change the paradigm of the global shipping industry in a contribution to the forum's official website ahead of the 56th Davos Forum (WEF) annual general meeting scheduled to be held on the 19th.

Vice Chairman Kim previously proposed a "carbon-free gas carrier" for the first time in the global industry at the annual general meeting of the Davos Forum in 2024, and this time, he proposed specific measures such as developing electric ships, developing stable energy storage systems (ESSs), building port charging infrastructure, and decarbonizing energy supply facilities to realize a comprehensive "carbon-free marine ecosystem."

In a contribution, Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan diagnosed that the shipping industry, which has relied on fossil fuels for more than 200 years, has begun a transition to an eco-friendly promotion system. According to the International Maritime Organization's 2050 Net Zero goal and the European Union's stricter carbon emissions regulations, shipping companies should secure emission rights for all carbon emissions after 2027.

Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan emphasized, "The decarbonization of shipping cannot be achieved with a single technology or policy," adding, "Cooperation across the value chain, which includes shipyards, port officials, energy suppliers, and policy makers, is important."

Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan said Hanwha Group is actively participating in the decarbonization of the shipping industry based on world-class shipbuilding and energy technology.

An official from Hanwha, who spoke with this newspaper by phone, said, "We are discussing a pilot project to provide ESS and ship charging facilities using clean energy in cooperation with the European port authority. This means that Hanwha's technology will create a new standard for global marine clean energy systems," he said.

Since his first participation in the Davos Forum in 2010, Vice Chairman Kim Dong-kwan has been carrying out various activities for a sustainable future through the forum so far.

In 2013, he was selected as the forum's Young Global Leader (YGL), and has been striving to expand the base of new and renewable energy by participating as a panel in the forum 'Economic Engine Reignition' session in 2015 and the 'Low Carbon Economy' session in 2016. In 2024, he proposed a "carbon-free gas carrier" as a speaker at the forum's annual general meeting for the first time in the global industry.

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*This content was translated by AI.