Alternative Fuels

T&E recommends mandates for UK shipping to drive uptake of zero-emission bunker fuels

T&E released a briefing paper to support its suggestion on use of e-fuel mandates to create a market for both supply and use of zero-emission marine fuels and achieve required emissions reductions for UK.

Published

3 years ago

August 2, 2023

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Transport & Environment (T&E) released a briefing paper on Monday (31 July) to support its recommendation on the use of mandates to create a market for both the supply and use of zero-emission marine fuels and achieve the required emissions reductions for Net Zero and the UK carbon budgets.

T&E explained UK shipping used almost 7 million tonnes of fossil marine fuel oil in 2021, and produced almost one fifth of all UK transport emissions. The government is currently considering policies to decarbonise the UK shipping sector but has yet to make any solid commitments.

At the level of the International Maritime Organization, the UK has endorsed a goal-based maritime emissions reduction pathway called the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). To meet the SBTi pathway will require large-scale use of zero-emission marine fuels and energy.

In March 2023, the UK government published assumptions for how much low-carbon shipping fuel will be required in 2035 to stay within the carbon budgets.

T&E calculated that meeting these assumptions with a combination of zero emission renewable e-fuels and direct electrification – the most cost-effective options – would require 44TWh renewable electricity, to produce 140,000 tonnes hydrogen, 3.1 million tonnes ammonia/methanol, and nearly 2TWh shore power. 44TWh would require an additional 1,360 8MW wind turbines.

The briefing showed the energy requirements for the UK of implementing five different zero emission mandate scenarios.

Each scenario assumes fulfilment with a combination of direct electrification and green e-fuels, using 100% renewable electricity.

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“Mandates are effective instruments to drive the uptake of near-zero- and zero-emission transport fuels. The UK already uses such a mandate (the development fuels sub-target) through the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO), whilst another for sustainable aviation fuel is being designed,” it said in the briefing paper.

“A mandate either for zero- or near-zero-emission shipping (or specifically on shipping fuels) will certainly be necessary to create a market for both the supply and use of these fuels, and achieve the required emissions reductions for Net Zero and the UK carbon budgets.”

T&E added in addition to fulfilment of any UK zero-emission shipping mandate, further abatement will be necessary for compliance with the SBTi pathway.

“This is because, even if the Carbon Budget Delivery Plan assumptions for low-carbon marine fuel uptake for UK domestic and international shipping correlate directly to emissions reductions, a maximum of 30.5% abatement would be achieved in 2035, compared to the SBTi target of 77% reduction by the same date,” it said.

“Additional consideration must therefore be given not only to the low-carbon fuel uptake assumptions, but also to targets and even mandates for energy efficiency technologies (to maximise their use by 2025 as envisioned in the Clean Maritime Plan) and speed reduction.”

Note: The full briefing paper of ‘Implications of an e-fuel mandate for UK shipping’ can be viewed here.

Photo credit: Chris Pagan on Unsplash
Published: 2 August, 2023

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Venture Energy facilitates largest single green methanol bunkering op in Hong Kong

Hong Kong shipowner Wah Kwong Maritime Transport’s subsidiary, Venture Energy Limited (Venture Energy), on Friday (10 July) said it recently facilitated the largest single green methanol bunkering operation conducted in Hong Kong to date.

Bunkering barge Da Qing 268 supplied 1,000 metric tonnes (mt) of green methanol to RoRo vessel CM Shenzhen belonging to China Merchants Guangzhou RoRo Shipping Co., Ltd. (CM RoRo), with Sinopec (Hong Kong) Limited (Sinopec HK).

The operation utilised green methanol from Shanghai Shenji Energy & Environmental Technology Co., Ltd. (Shenji Energy), a subsidiary of Shenergy Group and Venture Energy Limited (Venture Energy) arranged the delivery.

“This milestone highlights Venture Energy’s supply capabilities to bridge growing demand in the Greater Bay Area with diversified supply sources across North and East China, contributing to the development of a reliable and scalable green marine fuel supply chain for the region,” the company said.

Through close collaboration with Sinopec HK and other industry partners, Venture Energy helped ensure the safe and efficient delivery of green methanol to Hong Kong’s bunkering market.

The successful operation further strengthens Hong Kong’s position as an international maritime centre and an emerging green fuel bunkering hub. It also demonstrates the Greater Bay Area’s potential to establish a competitive, integrated and sustainable marine fuel ecosystem covering production, logistics, storage, bunkering and end-use applications.

Venture Energy will continue to collaborate with strategic partners across the green fuel value chain to support future bunkering operations and contribute to the development of low-carbon maritime Solutions.

Photo credit: Venture Energy
Published: 13 July, 2026

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CMA CGM boxship completes first bio-LNG bunkering operation in Rotterdam

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CMA CGM completes first bio-LNG bunkering operation in Rotterdam

French shipping giant CMA CGM on Friday (10 July) said one of its LNG-powered containerships completed its first bio-LNG bunkering operation in Rotterdam.

CMA CGM NOTRE DAME took on 11,125 cubic metres (m3) of bio-LNG – a renewable fuel that delivers a 67% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions over its full life cycle – produced in Europe from biomethane derived from agricultural and organic waste.

The operation was completed in 12 hours.

“At CMA CGM, we have been powering our vessels with LNG for several years, and our LNG-powered containerships are already compatible with bio-LNG,” it said.

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Published: 13 July, 2026

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Samskip container vessel become new demonstrator for HyShip project

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Samskip container vessel become new demonstrator for HyShip project

Maritime CleanTech recently said the HyShip project is entering a new phase as Samskip’s SeaShuttle container vessel becomes the project’s new demonstrator on the Oslo–Rotterdam route.

The move gives HyShip a real-world application on a keyfreight route between Oslo and Rotterdam, linking liquid hydrogen innovation to vessels already under construction for commercial operation.

By integrating onboard hydrogen storage systems with quayside bunkering systems, the project tackles one of the key challenges in scaling hydrogen-powered shipping: connecting fuel supply and port infrastructure with vessel operations.

“This brings zero-emission freight transport one step closer to commercial deployment,” it said.

The company said connecting the ports of Oslo and Rotterdam, both part of the TEN-T network, is more than a project milestone.

“It demonstrates how Europe can turn policy into practice by linking zero-emission vessels, hydrogen supply and bunkering infrastructure along one of the continent’s key freight corridors,” it said.

It is exactly the kind of cross-border collaboration needed to accelerate the deployment of clean shipping, in line with the European Commission’s ambitions for the Trans-European Transport Network and the recently launched EU Ports Strategy.

As the project coordinator, Maritime CleanTech said it is proud to work with leading European partners to reduce risk, validate solutions and build the confidence needed to accelerate the deployment of hydrogen-powered shipping across Europe.

“We’re also pleased to welcome LH2 Shipping to the consortium. Their expertise in liquid hydrogen systems and bunkering solutions will further strengthen the project and help establish the infrastructure needed for future green shipping corridors,” it said.

With support from the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, HyShip is helping connect Europe through zero-emission shipping.

The consortium also includes Maritime CleanTech, LMG Marin France, sus.lab at ETH Zurich, DNV SE, PERSEE, NCSR Demokritos, University of Strathclyde, Wilh. Wilhelmsen Holding, DianaShipping Services S.A., and NAV-Tech.

Together, the partners bring expertise from across the hydrogen, maritime, research, and regulatory value chain to accelerate the development of practical, scalable solutions for liquid hydrogen shipping.

“The market needs projects that reduce uncertainty, align partners, and make future investment decisions easier. This collaboration is strategically important because it helps build confidence in liquid hydrogen as a viable fuel for shipping,” said Tore Boge, Head of EU Projects at Maritime CleanTech.

HyShip is a European innovation project supported by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership, aimed at accelerating the use of liquid hydrogen as a zero-emission fuel for shipping.

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Published: 13 July, 2026