After the agreement with Enel Green Power focused on renewables and green hydrogen, the International Agency for renewable energy (Irena-International renewable energy agency) announced the new collaboration agreement with the International chamber of shipping (Ics), the world shipowners' association (of which Emanuele Grimaldi will soon become president), to support the decarbonization of the maritime sector by introducing renewable technologies.
In particular, the two bodies will organize a regular exchange of information on energy supply and demand relevant to the maritime sector and the exchange of data on scenarios of "future fuels" (such as green hydrogen and ammonia), both for nation states and for the maritime industry. This partnership agreement focuses in particular on the need to ensure a just energy transition for developing economies and on the important role of capacity building, as well as on the recognition of the energy needs of shipping itself.
Speaking of the deal, Guy Platten, ICS Secretary General, said: “Shipping accounts for almost 3% of global CO2 emissions and our journey to decarbonisation is a huge challenge. We must reduce our reliance on carbon-intensive fuels to power ships, not least because the global fleet will need to transport zero-carbon fuels to countries around the world in the years to come."
The global shipowners' association hopes this agreement will stimulate R&D investment by policymakers to make zero-carbon fuels widely available on the market. In this regard, Ics pointed out at COP26 that almost 5 billion dollars are needed to accelerate the shift in research and development towards zero carbon emissions fuels in the maritime sector, as it is necessary to develop multiple nascent technologies to reach a widespread implementation. large scale.
Many seafarers come from developing countries, who are witnessing firsthand the effects of climate change. ICS wants these workers to be given the green skills they need to keep global trade moving, and for developing nations to have access to the technologies and infrastructure to be part of shipping's green transition.
As noted by IRENA, switching to alternative fuels such as hydrogen, ammonia, biofuels and renewable electrification could reduce shipping emissions by 80% by 2050.
