Shipping sector leaders have committed to enable the use of renewable hydrogen as a marine fuel to help meet industry decarbonisation goals.
The joint commitment, signed at COP28 by thirty leaders, includes targets for fuel use, fleet development and port infrastructure to help bring the nascent green hydrogen industry to scale.
Port infrastructure is key with fuel supply present at ports on both sides of shipping routes, something that will require significant international cooperation and investment, says Sam Cho, Port of Seattle Commission president and co-chair of the Northwest Seaport Alliance.
“Green corridors focusing on cruise to Alaska and cargo with the Republic of Korea are already underway,” he said. “A critical next step is to look beyond our own port, and to ensure that our strategies align with future planning and investment in fuel supply in our region and around the world,” he added.
As part of the commitment, green hydrogen producers agreed to produce 11 million tonnes of the low-emissions fuel for use by the shipping sector by 2030. Longer term, a decarbonised global shipping sector will become one of the largest-demand sources for green hydrogen, projected to account for approximately 15% of total demand by 2050.
Ports and bunker suppliers have added their support, committing to invest in infrastructure and safety projects to support re-fuelling of ships with green hydrogen and its derivatives.
Equipment manufacturers also joined as signatories, committing to support research and development efforts to further green hydrogen-based fuel deployment in the maritime sector.
Signatories are calling on governments to follow suit and support private sector collaboration with ambitious fuel standards and clean fuel mandates.
To date, 41 governments have developed national hydrogen strategies but further action is needed, says the sector.
