The world is not on track for zero-emission fuels to account for 5% of international shipping fuels by 2030, a new analysis has found, jeopardising the shipping industry's 2050 decarbonisation goal.
Launched at the Global Maritime Forum's annual summit in Athens, the assessment finds that current scalable zero-emissions fuel (SZEF) production in the pipeline would cover just a quarter of the fuel needed by 2030.
And the delivery of zero-emission vessels is also faltering. At the end of 2022, there were 24 ships capable of running on SZEF – mostly methanol – with another 144 on order.
But current orders are just one-fifth of what is needed to meet mid-term goals, found the report, carried out by the UMAS consultancy which includes University College London Energy Institute experts.
"It's just not enough at scale or at the pace that is needed," said Katharine Palmer, shipping lead of the UN COP Climate Champions, at a press event.
"We need to see the demand and supply actors work together to implement specific solutions".
Greenhouse Emissions
Global shipping is responsible for about 3% of the world's greenhouse gas emissions from human activities.
This year, the International Maritime Organisation revised its greenhouse gas strategy, outlining the 5% goal but noting the industry should strive to achieve 10% zero-emission energy in international shipping fuels by the end of the decade.
Five to 10% of the fuel demand for shipping in 2030 would amount to about 5.3 million metric tonnes of hydrogen, 29.8 million metric tonnes of ammonia, or 28.1 million metric tonnes of methanol.
It is estimated that the industry will have to invest about $40 billion annually in SZEF bunkering and production.
