BERG Propulsion is offering the shipping industry its first opportunity to select propeller shafts made using the climate neutral GreenForge® production process, in a maritime sector that is highly exposed to anticipated carbon pricing.
Three Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA) ro-ro vessels due in service from 2026 to carry aircraft parts across the Atlantic are already set to take advantage of sustainable wind power, courtesy of their rotor sails, while their hybrid propulsion, power management and control technology is coming from BERG.
BERG propeller shafts
In addition, BERG will supply propeller shafts made from recycled scrap steel, using the GreenForge® production – a process developed by Björneborg Steel which draws on renewable electricity sources and makes pioneering use at scale of the fossil-free biogas rDME or bio-propane instead of propane.
The process is audited as cutting 95% of the CO2 generated in conventional production, with other measures mitigating the remaining emissions to ensure full climate neutrality.
GreenForge® process
Björneborg Steel indicates that having the six propeller shafts for LDA using the GreenForge® process
Björneborg Steel indicates that producing the six propeller shafts for LDA using the GreenForge® process will result in a reduction of 160 tonnes of CO2 compared to the conventional method.
Kajsa de Mello, Operations Director, BERG Propulsion, said: “BERG is delighted to work with Sweden’s cutting-edge steel industry and pioneer the use of maritime GreenForge®. We are proud to be the first supplier in the world to offer customers propeller shafts using this process. It is fitting that the first sea-going application should be low-emission ships."
Investing in clean technologies
The world’s first climate-neutral propeller shaft for LDA is due delivery from Björneborg Steel to the BERG plant in Hönö, Sweden, in March, with five more to arrive before the end of June 2025.
The EU's 'Clean Industrial Deal' is expected to help revitalise European industries by including measures to incentivise renewable energy, remove barriers to investing in clean technologies, and offering aid and tax breaks to cut carbon. Penalties are also coming for CO2 emissions in an industry that will improve the competitive position of processes such as GreenForge®.
Climate-neutral processes
Björneborg Steel projects emission-free processes will be cheaper than their legacy counterparts
CO2 emission ‘rights’ are being withdrawn from EU steelmakers, meaning they can switch to climate-neutral processes or face penalties and higher production costs. By 2030, Björneborg Steel projects emission free processes will be cheaper than their legacy counterparts.
“The sustainability case for carbon neutral steel is compelling and, while it is currently at the premium end of the market, its use will offer marine equipment buyers a route around escalating fossil-based production costs,” said de Mello. “BERG is proud to lead where others will have to follow.”
BERG’s customers
Håkan Dedorsson, CEO of Björneborg Steel, said, “Like other industries, maritime has its share of sustainability pioneers and stakeholders open to the innovations needed for the challenges ahead."
“We are ramping up production based on the cutting-edge GreenForge® process, subject to the availability of biogases and we look forward to helping BERG’s customers make the green choice that will benefit generations to come.” Based on demand, Björneborg aims to shift its full production to the GreenForge® process in 2027.
