After energy providers, shipping companies and NGOs called the EU to introduce a minimum quota of 6% sustainable and scalable hydrogen fuels by 2030, Gavin Allwright, Secretary at International Windship Association, added that “all zero-emissions energy provision to vessels need to be treated equally.”
A broad coalition of energy providers, shipping companies and NGOs – including Siemens Energy, Viking Cruises, Green Power Denmark and Brussels-based organisations Hydrogen Europe and Transport & Environment (T&E) – has called on the EU to introduce a minimum quota of 6% sustainable and scalable hydrogen fuels by 2030.
Commenting on the call, Mr. Allwright stated in his LinkedIn account that:
While we agree with the need to strengthen the EU Fuel Maritime provisions to ensure renewable energy uptake, we also need to see all zero-emissions energy provision to vessels treated equally, with any quota or multiplier provided to commoditised fuels being provided equally to non-commiditised direct energy provision such as wind propulsion
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As he further explained “a level playing field that delivers swift decarbonisation across the fleet and that treats both infrastructure heavy and non-infrastructure dependent zero-emissions energy sources equally is certainly a course of action to be supported and one we have repeatedly called for at EU and International levels.”
Recently, the International Windship Association (IWSA) issued a call for the greater inclusion of wind-assisted propulsion technology in regulatory frameworks and for a level playing field for all energy sources, inclusive of wind, in international and regional policies and subsidies.
When launching the ‘Decade of Wind Propulsion’ campaign last year, IWSA dubbed 2021-2030 as the ‘Decade to Deliver’ on the potential that wind propulsion brings to the challenge of decarbonising the entire current fleet and the vessels of the future.
Wind propulsion has transitioned from the perception of being ‘blue sky’ technology in the previous decade to gaining industry interest over the past few years. The conversion of that interest into investment is now taking place at a quickening pace
said IWSA, adding that there are currently 19 large vessel wind propulsion installations in operation and that number will likely double over the next 12 months.
Moreover, a healthy R&D pipeline reported across IWSA members means that the number of test installations on the water can be expected to also grow substantially in the coming year.
