A study to take a snapshot of the shipping industry’s global capability to go green has been launched by the International Maritime Organization.
“Meeting the ambitions in IMO’s GHG Strategy to reach net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping by or around 2050 will require scaling up global markets for renewable fuels (including sustainable biofuels and e-fuels) and building up their supply chains. This means deployment of renewable energy power infrastructure, renewable fuel production facilities, fuel transport and bunkering infrastructure, other port infrastructure such as shore power, as well as vessels capable of using and transporting these fuels,” the IMO said in a statement.
In a global first, the energy industry / maritime world study will provide:
- an overview of global renewable fuel production, supply and demand, including future projections
- an assessment of energy and maritime infrastructure needs, including ports and fuel supply chains
- identification of key challenges and opportunities for scaling up renewable fuel deployment
- recommendations on priority actions and long-term strategies to support the development of maritime infrastructure
The IMO’s Future Fuels and Technology project and its GreenVoyage2050 programme will work on the study in collaboration with the World Maritime University (WMU); and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The global analysis report is expected to be finalized by third quarter 2026; reports will be published by IMO on the respective project and partner websites and will also be presented to IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee in due course.
