New partners join CEM Hubs to support low-carbon fuel infrastructure

The Clean Energy Marine Hubs (CEM Hubs) initiative has welcomed the government of Greece and shipping organizations ABS, Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonization Hub, Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF), as well as the World Economic Forum as the newest partners.

The announcement was made during the Clean Energy Ministerial Meeting (CEM15) which supports the G20 Energy Transition Agenda. The maritime industry and energy ministers met to discuss how to move forward with the implementation of the infrastructure architecture for future fuel production, transport and use across countries and sectors, including shipping.

As explained, the initiative aims to accelerate and de-risk the production, transport and use of low-carbon fuels that will be transported by shipping. The CEM Hubs was launched back in 2022 by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), and the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM). It is a first-of-its-kind cross-sectoral public-private platform and was officially adopted by the Clean Energy Ministerial in July 2023.

Greece is one of the “leading” maritime countries in the world, representing 20% of global shipping and is the largest ship-owning nation in deadweight tons (dwt). According to the iCS, the country is expected to play a significant role in driving the initiative forward.

The Minister of Environment and Energy in Greece, Theodoros Skylakakis, emphasized that the protection of the marine environment is a top priority on Greece’s political agenda. He noted that the contribution of oceans and seas is crucial not only for climate regulation but also for humanity’s survival on the planet.

Skylakakis also expressed concern that climate change and marine pollution, particularly from unsustainable maritime transport, are leading to the degradation of the marine environment and the loss of unique biodiversity.

“Embracing a low-emissions energy system will require resilient digital and physical infrastructure to support the deployment of new technologies. Industrial clusters such as marine hubs will play a critical role in establishing the necessary infrastructure for a multi-fuel future. This partnership between the World Economic Forum’s Transitioning Industrial Clusters initiative and the Clean Energy Marine Hubs aims to accelerate public-private collaboration to drive economic growth, employment and reducing emissions,” Roberto Bocca Head, Centre for Energy and Materials; Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum, added.

Esben Poulsson, Chair of the Clean Energy Marine Hubs Industry Taskforce, stated that while the International Maritime Organization seeks fuels for ships, their focus is on finding fuels for the world. He highlighted that de-risking and accelerating the energy transition is a critical issue globally.

“It is encouraging to see the recognition this initiative is garnering and the valuable expertise and knowledge that each partner brings to the table is second to none. We look forward to working with all our partners to tie energy planning, infrastructure at ports and the link to the maritime transition going forward,” Poulsson concluded.