Decarbonisation

KPI OceanConnect: EU ETS success depends on preparation and partnership

Jesper Sørensen of KPI OceanConnect explains how even operators that visit the region only occasionally should be well-prepared to deal with EU Emissions Trading System.

Published

8 months ago

February 13, 2024

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Jesper Sørensen, Head of Alternative Fuels and Carbon Markets at KPI OceanConnect, looks at the EU Emissions Trading System and explains how even operators that visit the region only occasionally should be well-prepared to deal with the system:

Ships arriving at ports in the European Union (EU) since the start of the year must pay the EU for a portion of the carbon emitted during their voyage under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS). The EU ETS, which has regulated emissions from European industries, energy producers and aviation for more than a decade, came into effect for shipping vessels over 5000GT on 1st January this year. Owners and operators should rethink how they approach and manage their fuel strategies, with the introduction of the EU ETS meaning they will now need to consider the cost of their carbon emissions.

The EU ETS regulation is changing the way shipping handles its emissions. Until now, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) focused on operational and technical aspects of existing and future fleets to reduce carbon emissions. Europe’s emissions trading system instead puts a price on carbon and requires owners or operators of vessels that call in EU ports to pay for their emissions. With greenhouse gas emissions linked directly to costs, owners and operators will want to consider emissions trading as they plan and develop their fuel strategies.

The process of engaging with EU ETS is complex. All vessels visiting EU ports will be familiar with the monitoring, verification and reporting (MRV) standards related to the EU ETS that have been in place since 2018. These MRV standards underpin the compliance process for the EU ETS, providing the data that determines the number of EU Allowances (EUAs) an operator needs to buy and surrender. Less familiar to ship owners and operators will be the entirely new processes of buying, holding and surrendering EUAs.

Operators subject to EU ETS must register with the Union Registry, the body responsible for guaranteeing accurate accounting for all allowances issued under EU ETS. The Union Registry offers two types of accounts for holding EUAs. The first of which is the Operator Holding Account (OHA) from which operators surrender EUAs to cover their emissions. EUAs can only be surrendered to administering authorities through an OHA. The other type of account is a Trading Account (TA). Any business can open a TA, and it allows them to buy and receive EUAs, whether their activities are subject to the EU ETS or not. EUAs purchased through a TA must be transferred to an OHA for surrendering.

Both types of accounts are opened with individual countries through the Union Registry. The process for opening accounts is complex, and the information required varies between countries. Opening an account can take several months, so even for irregular visitors to EU ports, it is worth doing this as soon as possible.

In an open market for carbon credits, operators will want to pay attention to when they buy EUAs and the prices they pay. As operators become more familiar with EU ETS, some may choose to develop more sophisticated fuel strategies, considering the likely cost of any carbon credits they will need to surrender alongside their fuel cost. However, in the first year of operation for EU ETS, we anticipate companies will prioritise compliance and building capacity and experience with the system.

In February, shipping companies that operate frequently in the EU will learn which country will host their OHA. Operators will be allocated to the country whose ports they visit most often, so they are likely to have a good idea of which country they will be registering with. However, shipping operators whose vessels visit EU ports less frequently will be required to open their OHA in the country of their first European port call in 2024. Given the complexities of registration, operators need to be well prepared to work with the country authorities where their first vessel makes port.

KPI OceanConnect sees working with clients to handle the demands of the EU ETS as an extension of our partner role in the bunkering industry. Our team has already supported many customers with their EUA questions and transactions. Operators need to think carefully about how they will manage EU ETS and be aware that there is support for covering the many areas of preparation.

Legal teams should review contracts to make sure it is clear who will be responsible for different aspects of compliance in the value chain. Agreements between technical managers and owners must clearly assign responsibilities, and clauses in contracts between the owner and the charterer and the charterer and the cargo owner need to be clear.

Internally, shipping companies need to assign responsibility for managing engagement with EU ETS in ways that work best for them. A strategy for buying EUAs when low-carbon fuel is expensive may work for some companies, but it is important to understand which team is responsible for working this out. Internal clarity at this level can make working with the EU ETS easier for shipping companies.

Ultimately, no matter how many port calls an operator makes in the EU, it is important to ensure compliance. Regardless of any low-carbon fuel buying strategy adopted to minimise exposure to the EU ETS, operators must purchase enough EUAs to cover vessel emissions during the reporting year. If they miscalculate, they will be fined and must still come up with the right number of EUAs. Serious non-compliance may lead to vessels being banned from calling at EU ports.

KPI OceanConnect recognises that marine energy users need to adapt to this complex system and ensure they tailor their fuel strategies to accommodate the new influence of emissions trading. We have long worked in partnership with our suppliers and clients to share knowledge and experience of the bunkering industry. As the shipping industry moves forward to a future that includes carbon trading under EU ETS, partnership and knowledge sharing across the industry will be important for delivering a successful energy transition.

Photo credit: KPI OceanConnect
Published: 13 February, 2024

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Biofuel

Argus Media: Bunkering sector needs deeper dive into B24 bio bunker fuel market

‘As we advance into 2025, the need to understand how B24 matures in terms of market fundamentals, pricing and dynamics will be a key indicator for the marine sector,’ says Mahua Chakravarty of Argus.

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Argus Media organises free admission ‘Argus Asia B24 Forum’ for bunkering sector

Ahead of Argus Asia B24 Forum, Manifold Times interviewed Mahua Chakravarty, Head of Marine Fuels Pricing (Asia) of independent global energy and commodity market intelligence provider Argus Media; she explains the growing prominence of B24 bunker fuel in the marine sector and believes it is imperative for the bunkering sector to deepen its knowledge on it:

MT: Why is it important for the bunkering sector to know more about the B24 bunker fuel market?

B24 has emerged as the first alternative marine fuel that allows ship-owners and charterers a drop-in fuel option, and make greenhouse gas (GHG) savings, for their voyages into EU and territorial waters.

It has proved to be the most practical solution for ship-owners that eliminates costly retrofitting charges. The easy availability of used cooking oil methyl ester (UCOME) as a blendstock from China and southeast Asia, also adds to its overall attractiveness as an alternative fuel.

B24 consumption in the port of Singapore recorded multi-fold jumps to touch 518,000t in 2023 as ship-owners fuelled for trials in preparation for the implementation of EU-led mandates like the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) and the Carbon Intensity Index (CII) rating. In 2024, B24 demand has continued to grow with 377,800t of consumption seen up to August, according to statistics from the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA).

As we advance into 2025, the need to understand how B24 matures in terms of market fundamentals, pricing and dynamics will be a key indicator for the marine sector. Being the first generation of new marine fuels, B24 has shown the way that biofuel blends can provide a solution for ship-owners/charterers to meet compliance mandates set by the EU and IMO.

MT: Why has Argus developed its own B24 Singapore price index? What's so special about it and why should the industry adopt it as a benchmark?

Argus was the first to launch its spot B24 delivered on board (DOB) Singapore assessment in January 2023, thus introducing price discovery for this market at its point of inception. The past 1.5 years of daily price assessments of B24, using a robust market survey approach, has built Argus’ understanding of this market from the start.

We have seen the growth of liquidity and the quest among refiners, traders, ship-owners to find pricing solutions for a nascent market. We have been at the forefront of capturing spot liquidity growth and in assessing prices for this market.

This index is now considered a key price assessment by key refiners, traders, ship-owners and other stakeholders in the market.

MT: What takeaways can each segment of the bunkering sector such as bunker buyers, bunker traders, and shipowners receive from the upcoming Argus B24 forum?

The Argus B24 Asia Forum is aimed at showcasing some of these learnings by a global team that covers key markets like Singapore, China and Europe. Our global team will present their insights on the key trends driving demand for marine biodiesel globally.

As the marine sector marches onwards with the bunkering of higher biofuel blends, this forum will allow the audience to reflect on the key factors that have driven the marine biodiesel sector. It will provide insights to make better decisions about infrastructure, pricing, feedstock-related issues and what blends are likely to be prevalent in the coming year.

We will be hosting a panel discussion at this forum that will include key players driving the marine biodiesel space in Singapore and other regions.

The Argus Asia B24 Forum will be held in The Village Hotel (The Events Centre by Far East Hospitality), Sentosa, Singapore (Google Maps) on 8 October between 4.00pm to 7.00pm Singapore Time.

Participants are encouraged to register for the free event via the custom link here.

Photo credit: Argus Media
Published: 4 October 2024

Alternative Fuels

Report: E-Fuels projected to be available for next ZEMBA tender

Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance and LR report found sufficient predicted supply of both e-methanol and e-methanol-capable vessels in container segment to support ZEMBA’s focus on e-fuel deployment.

Published

1 day ago

October 4, 2024

Admin

A new report released on Thursday (3 October) by the Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) and Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub found that e-fuel-powered shipping services are projected to be available for ZEMBA’s next tender.

Specifically, the report – which summarises the findings from a request for information (RFI) that the two organizations co-ran earlier in 2024 – found sufficient predicted supply of both e-methanol and e-methanol-capable vessels in the container segment to support ZEMBA’s focus on e-fuel deployment.

ZEMBA’s next tender is expected to launch in early 2025, with the aim to purchase the environmental attributes associated with e-fuel powered services starting in 2027.

“ZEMBA's aim is to open the door to new and increasingly scalable solutions through each of our tender processes,” said Ingrid Irigoyen, President and CEO of ZEMBA.

“Because there are scale limitations to those low carbon fuels that rely on biogenic feedstocks, rapid deployment of hydrogen-derived e-fuels this decade is crucial to ensure that the maritime sector gets on a 1.5 aligned pathway toward full decarbonisation by 2050, at the latest.

“We’re pleased that the RFI results suggest that the maritime sector will be ready to provide ZEMBA’s climate-leading freight buyer members with e-fuel powered shipping for our next tender.”

Nearly 50 ship operators and fuel suppliers from around the world responded to the ZEMBA RFI, which was intended to assess the market readiness of commercial deployment of e-fuels in shipping.

The report focuses on the implications of the RFI's results for ZEMBA’s next tender and how these findings relate to overarching trends in commercial deployment of e-fuels in the maritime sector. The RFI did not ask about the projected cost or price of e-fuel-powered services.

“The results of the RFI offer a valuable glimpse into the emerging market for e-fuels and e-fuel-capable vessels,” said Dr Carlo Raucci, Director of Sustainable Fuels and Strategy at Lloyd's Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub.

“Despite the current gap between e-fuel supply and vessel availability, it's encouraging to see the potential for e-fuels to make a significant impact on the maritime sector. We're excited to collaborate with ZEMBA on their second tender, which could be instrumental in driving the widespread adoption of scalable e-fuels in shipping.”

ZEMBA’s upcoming tender builds upon lessons learned during its inaugural tender, which was successfully completed in April 2024. Global carrier Hapag-Lloyd was the winner of the first tender and is supporting members to collectively avoid at least 82,000 metric tonnes of CO2e in 2025 and 2026.

The majority of RFI respondents predicted that commercial e-fuels deployment in the maritime sector would be feasible starting in 2027 and 2028, with limited deployment potentially as early as late 2026. However, in the next few years, the RFI results identified a mismatch in the supply of certain e-fuels and corresponding e-fuel capable vessels on a fuel-by-fuel basis.

Containerships capable of operating on e-methane are already available now, but the RFI found no e-methane production projects post-final investment decision (FID).

Conversely, e-ammonia production projects under construction appear to be sufficient to meet ZEMBA’s estimated demand, but the first e-ammonia-capable containerships are unlikely be on the water by 2027.

The RFI suggests e-methanol is the most likely pathway for ZEMBA’s next tender because of alignment between sufficient projected e-methanol fuel production and e-methanol-capable containership vessels on the water in 2027.

However, across fuel types, the report highlights that a significant number of e-fuel projects remain at pre-FID stage, casting doubt on whether those projects would begin production on their projected timelines and, related, if e-fuel-capable dual fuel vessels will actually run on e-fuels.

One finding from ZEMBA’s inaugural tender was that announcements for e-fuel development projects often do not correlate to commercial readiness within predicted timeframes. ZEMBA received no e-fuel-powered bids for its first tender.

Commitments from ZEMBA members for e-fuel-powered shipping services through the next tender will aim to provide encouragement to ship operators and others across the maritime value chain to enter into longer term offtake e-fuel contracts of their own.

ZEMBA intends to announce details about its next e-fuel-focused tender before the end of 2024, with the aim to solicit bids in early 2025. Ahead of this tender, ZEMBA is recruiting additional climate-leading companies who are seeking to credibly reduce their Scope 3 emissions, manage long-term cost of the energy transition, and kickstart a zero-emission market in the maritime sector.

Note: The report can be found here.

Photo credit: Chris Pagan on Unsplash
Published: 4 October, 2024

Alternative Fuels

Greece joins Clean Energy Marine Hubs to support low-carbon fuels

Greece, ABS, WEF and other partners joined the initiative that aims to accelerate and de-risk the production, transport and use of low-carbon fuels that will be transported by shipping for the world.

Published

1 day ago

October 4, 2024

Admin

Greece joins Clean Energy Marine Hubs to support low-carbon fuels

The Clean Energy Marine Hubs (CEM Hubs) on Wednesday (2 October) welcomed the government of Greece and new partners ABS, Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, OCIMF and the World Economic Forum to the initiative that aims to accelerate and de-risk the production, transport and use of low-carbon fuels that will be transported by shipping for the world.

Greece is one of the leading maritime countries in the world, representing 20% of global shipping and is largest ship-owning nation in dwt, and will play a significant role in driving forward the initiative.

The Minister of Environment and Energy, Greece, Mr. Theodoros Skylakakis, highlights that: “The protection of the marine environment is at the top of Greece’s political agenda. The contribution of the oceans and seas is not only vital for the regulation of the climate, but also for our very survival on the planet.”

“Climate change as well as marine pollution, through (amongst others) unsustainable maritime transport, lead to the destruction of the marine environment and the loss of the unique biodiversity. We are therefore committed to the CEM- Hubs Initiative and are happy to join forces with all other partners to achieve our shared goals.”

The Minister of Maritime Affairs and Island Policy Greece, Mr. Christos Stylianides, said: “Greece decided to join the CEM Hubs platform on the basic understanding that promoting the worldwide use and transportation of low-carbon fuels at scale is the most essential prerequisite for the energy transition of shipping.

“Being a traditional maritime nation with a strong interest in the provision of maritime transport services worldwide, and as a shipping hub in the Eastern Mediterranean, we will be delighted to work with all CEM Hubs partners and contribute to its objectives.”

New partners joining the initiative each bring unique skills and expertise to evolve the CEM Hubs to the next level. The World Economic Forum is the international organization for public-private cooperation, providing a global, impartial and not-for-profit platform for meaningful connection between stakeholders. ABS is a global leader in providing classification services for marine and offshore assets.

Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub is also a leading provider in decarbonisation services to the marine industry. Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) is a voluntary association of oil companies with an interest in the shipment and terminalling of crude oil, oil products, petrochemicals and gas.

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 fuels production, transport and use across countries and sectors, including shipping.

Roberto Bocca Head, Centre for Energy and Materials; Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum, said: “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.”

The CEM Hubs initiative, which is co-led by a taskforce of CEOs, is a partnership between the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM), and International Chamber of Shipping (ICS).

Note: More information on the initiative can be found here.

Photo credit: International Chamber of Shipping
Published: 4 October, 2024