New industry platform zeroes in on clean maritime fuels uptake in Europe

Maritime associations and interest groups including ECSA, FuelsEurope, eFuel Alliance, EWABA, HydrogenEurope, and Methanol Institute have established a new Clean Maritime Fuels Platform, an industry initiative aiming to enhance communication between the shipping sector and fuel producers.

Representatives of associations held their first meeting on September 12, 2024, and agreed on the objectives and the working principles of the new platform and discussed the key topic of infrastructure gaps.

As informed, as a bottom-up industry initiative, the Clean Maritime Fuels Platform will seek to enhance communication between the shipping sector and fuel producers and to identify common challenges and possible solutions, considering the implementation of the Fit for 55 package and the transition to a net-zero economy by 2050.

Through regular meetings, the new platform will focus on policies and tools to support the production and uptake of clean maritime fuels in Europe including areas such as maritime in EU ETS and funding opportunities.

“Today, the shipping and energy industry join forces and launch a dialogue platform that can facilitate better flow of information about the common challenges we are facing. We need all hands on deck to make the energy transition happen. In order to meet our targets, we need clean fuels available in the market in sufficient quantities and at an affordable price. European shipowners are proud to launch with the fuel producers the Clean Maritime Fuels Platform”, said Sotiris Raptis, ECSA Secretary General.

According to recently published report on the Future of European Competitiveness by Mario Draghi, former European Central Bank President, shipping is one of the most difficult sectors to decarbonize.

Given that access to clean maritime fuels is a top priority for the shipping sector’s decarbonization, investment needs for shipping alone will be around €40 billion each year from 2031 to 2050. In this regard, the report identifies the need for adequate access to finance, including special calls for shipping under the ETS Innovation Fund.

“There are numerous challenges to a swift and reliable supply of renewable marine fuels. Through a regular exchange with other industry representatives and by making concrete proposals to optimize the European regulatory framework, we aim to make immediate progress for the maritime industry and other transport sectors with this initiative,” commented Ralf Diemer, Managing Director of the eFuel Alliance.