The Clean Maritime Fuels Platform, a new collaborative industry initiative, has been designed to strengthen communication between the shipping sector and fuel producers.
As explained by ECSA, the new Clean Maritime Fuels Platform is a bottom-up industry initiative aiming to enhance communication between the shipping sector and fuel producers and to identify common challenges and possible solutions, considering the implementation of the Fit for 55 package and the transition to a net-zero economy by 2050.
On 12 September, representatives of ECSA, FuelsEurope, eFuel Alliance, EWABA, HydrogenEurope and Methanol Institute held their first meeting and agreed on the objectives and the working principles of the new platform. Members also started to discuss the key topic of infrastructure gaps.
The platform will focus on policies and tools to support the production and uptake of clean maritime fuels in Europe including areas such as maritime in EU ETS and funding opportunities.
We need all hands on deck to make the energy transition happen. In order to meet our targets, we need clean fuels available in the market in sufficient quantities and at an affordable price. European shipowners are proud to launch with the fuel producers the Clean Maritime Fuels Platform.
… said Sotiris Raptis, ECSA Secretary General.
Meanwhile, Liana Gouta, Director General of FuelsEurope, noted that the Platform will facilitate collaboration between the maritime sector and fuel manufacturers to address the production, supply, and use of renewable and low-carbon fuels.
Furthermore, Ralf Diemer, Managing Director of the eFuel Alliance, identified challenges in the supply of renewable marine fuels and emphasized the need for industry collaboration and regulatory improvements to advance progress.
Renewable and low-carbon e-fuels can play a key role in the decarbonisation of the maritime sector, but their large-scale production and uptake need to be facilitated as soon as possible.
… commented Daniel Fraile, Chief Policy Officer of Hydrogen Europe, with Angel Alvarez Alberdi, Secretary General of EWABA, highlighting that a closer collaboration between renewable fuel suppliers and ship owners will significantly reduce technical, operational, and financial barriers
By combining our collective expertise and efforts, we are not only tackling the pressing need for emission reductions but also laying the groundwork for a more resilient and sustainable maritime industry.
… concluded Greg Dolan, CEO of Methanol Institute.
The platform will hold regular meetings with ECSA taking care of the secretariat’s tasks.
