MMMCZCS: Momentum to develop ‘viable’ fuel options is here to stay despite shipping’s green transition woes

November 27, 2024, by Sara Kosmajac

There is a palpable momentum in developing viable fuel solutions across the maritime value chain – even when the green transition for shipping faces considerable hurdles, the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) unveiled in an updated version of its Fuel Pathway Maturity Map.

The Fuel Pathway Maturity Map represents an “interactive” guide envisioned to provide the shipping and financial sectors with an overview of the readiness of the alternative fuels that are anticipated to play a pivotal role in decarbonizing the maritime industry by (or around) 2050.

Specifically, according to MMMCZCS, this guide evaluates the technological readiness across the value chain—from fuel production to onboard use—for low-emission fuels such as green ammonia, bio-methane, e-methanol, and renewable types of diesel.

Questioning the stagnation narrative: Technical innovations steer progress amid industry skepticism

Speaking about the latest update—which reflects on the progress made since 2022—Christoffer Lythcke-Elberling, Head of Transition Modeling & Analytics at MMMCZCS, said that the new release “counters the prevailing narrative that maritime decarbonization is at a halt”.

“The progress captured in the Fuel Pathway Maturity Map demonstrates that the technical side of the industry is on the right path, with tangible advancements in key areas. This should enforce confidence in the green transition in stakeholders across the value chain,” Lythcke-Elberling emphasized.

Over the past two years, there have been numerous advances in shipping, MMMCZCS highlighted, primarily driven by increased investments in dual-fuel ships and pilot projects across the fuel landscape.

As disclosed in MMMCZCS’s analysis, noteworthy progress has been achieved in the following segments:

Ammonia: Pilot projects have helped give onboard energy storage and fuel conversion technology a push forward, bringing this clean fuel closer to maritime readiness;
Methanol: Swift growth in the dual-fuel methanol vessels entering the market has driven certain breakthroughs in global storage, logistics, bunkering infrastructure, and bio-methanol production using bio-methane as a feedstock;
Bio-methane: Biogas-based manufacturing technologies appear to be maturing, with large-scale plants now operational;
Bio-oils: Pyrolysis oil production technology seems to have improved, though further work may be needed to reach ‘commercial viability’ for shipping;
Renewable Diesels (new pathways): E-diesel and bio-diesel have also entered the stage as additional viable options.

A dip further into the reality of alternative fuel readiness

In October this year, the UK-based classification society Lloyd’s Register’s (LR) Maritime Decarbonization Hub issued a report on the viability and readiness of clean fuels, providing another angle into the matter.

In its Zero Carbon Fuel Monitor (ZCFM) report, LR’s Maritime Decarbonization Hub reflected on the final stage of the fuel supply chain – the ship – and explored the current global fleet’s readiness for sustainable fuels like ammonia, hydrogen, methanol and biofuels.

The analysis revealed that the global fleet at present featured over 400 ammonia-ready ships, 78 hydrogen-capable ships, and 315 ‘methanol-capable’ vessels with around 500 more classed as ‘methanol-ready’, with a growing number of units that utilize biofuels like fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO).

Nonetheless, both the LR’s Maritime Decarbonization Hub and MMMCZCS (in its latest overview) agree that, even though technological progress has, indeed, been made, there is an ‘urgent’ need for “continued innovation and regulatory alignment.”

As per MMMCZCS, the maritime sector cannot achieve decarbonization without clear certification standards, robust emission controls, and global regulatory consensus.

“With the technological advancements outlining the path forward, regulators have a crucial opportunity to take bold steps. The tools and knowledge are in place for regulatory frameworks that will accelerate the transition—now is the time to act,” Torben Nørgaard, Chief Technology Officer – Energy & Fuels, remarked.

Earlier in November, MMMCZCS presented a guide of a different nature: an insight into ammonia-fueled units through the lens of ship design.

The report, titled ‘Emerging ship design principles for ammonia-fueled vessels’, is intended to aid shipyards, ship designers, and operators/owners in navigating through main decisions when creating new ammonia-fueled ship designs, covering the ammonia liquid gas storage, handling, and safety aspects.

As informed, the guiding principle of the publication was the safety of the crew and shoreside personnel with safeguards, tools and design considerations implemented to mitigate risks.