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Study finds future-fuel demand for shipping industry equal to entire current global production of renewables

Huge and immediate need for renewable-based fuels in shipping represents opportunity for investors, according to ‘Fuelling the Fourth Propulsion Revolution’ report released today. Investment in green infrastructure key, as shipping will carry more than half of the world’s net-zero fuels by 2050, report estimates. Particular opportunity for the Global South identified as net-zero fuel production costs expected to be up to 20% lower in Latin America and Africa.

London, UK. Vancouver, Canada. 17th May 2022.

A new study, commissioned by the International Chamber of Shipping and prepared by Professor Dr. Stefan Ulreich from Germany’s University of Applied Sciences, finds that the global shipping industry will require the equivalent of the world’s entire current renewable energy demand in order to replace fossil fuel use.

The report—Fuelling the Fourth Propulsion Revolution— highlights the enormous opportunity for investors and governments represented by the global shipping industry’s need for new, green fuels.

To reach the industry’s 2050 (net) zero goal, shipping’s fuel needs would require electricity from renewable sources to increase by up to 3,000 TWh, the report shows. This is the equivalent of the entire world’s current renewable energy production.

It finds that to achieve the IEA’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 scenario, the world would need an 18-fold increase in existing renewable production capacity.

Taking the global trading of hydrogen as an exemplar, the report identifies substantial potential benefits for exporting and importing countries, particularly in the Global South. This is due to the expected production cost differentials of such fuels across the world (expected range of €72.60/MWh to €156.40/MWh in 2050).

The cost range reflects the abundance of renewable potential, such as solar and wind power, in many African and Latin American countries, which can generate the electricity needed in the production of hydrogen fuels at much lower cost.

The report identifies the first movers who are looking to seize these investment opportunities, including Germany, Algeria, and Chile, who have signed multiple bilateral agreements on the production of hydrogen fuels (seen as key for powering ships).

Unveiled at the World Ports Conference in Vancouver, Canada, the report urgently calls for increased R&D in green fuels, and specifically to develop production infrastructure in key geographic locations such as Latin America and Africa.

Estimates show a production potential of more than 10,000 TWh for (net) zero carbon fuels in coastal regions worldwide. Shipping views investment in these areas as key to helping countries realize the potential gains present in their bilateral agreements.

Up to this point, there continues to be a lack of investment in zero-emission technologies, with the IEA highlighting that the total amount of corporate R&D investment for maritime has decreased, from $2.7 billion in 2017 to $1.6 billion in 2019.

Yet by 2050, at least half of (net) zero fuels traded globally are expected to be moved by ships, according to the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA). The report indicates that this makes maritime a key enabler of the decarbonization of land-based industrial sectors.

To meet the enormous demand for hydrogen-based fuels in the Global North, production centers in the Global South are urgently needed. While governments are beginning to realize the need to transition to fuels like hydrogen, little thought to date seems to have been given to how they will actually transport those fuels. Shipping must be part of wider energy transition negotiations, and shipping and ports are going to need investment. But with this investment comes huge opportunity for return.

—Prof. Dr. Stefan Ulreich

The International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) is the principal international trade association for merchant shipowners and operators, representing all sectors and trades and more than 80% of the world merchant fleet.

Comments

Lad

This article points out the huge amount of energy required for shipping; and, as an unintended consequence it describes between the lines what a terrible gross pollution problem the current shipping industry represents. A gross pollution problem that so far has been largely ignored.

mahonj

This also says to me that we should fix this rather than aviation as ships can easily have larger or heavier fuel storage and propulsion systems where aircraft are constrained by both volume and weight.
So start here, and when this is done, look at aviation.

SJC

'The sixteen largest ships emit the same amount of CO2 as all the world's cars. ' '

Gryf

This article is not about GHG emissions in Shipping and definitely nothing to do with Sulfur Dioxide emissions of the 15 largest ships in 2009. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2009/apr/09/shipping-pollution
This is only about as stated above:
“ To meet the enormous demand for hydrogen-based fuels in the Global North, production centers in the Global South are urgently needed. . . .”
The production of 10,000 TWh of (net) zero carbon fuels by the “Global South” will never happen.

Davemart

@gryf:

I rarely disagree with you, mostly because I would probably lose, but:

' The production of 10,000 TWh of (net) zero carbon fuels by the “Global South” will never happen. '

Is not what is being argued.

Total demand is put at 10kTwh, with a substantial but undefined contribution from 'Global South'

SJC

More fossil fuels burned more greenhouse gases emitted this is relevant

Gryf

My point was that this study is not about GHG in Shipping, but that as the foreword states that “shipping will play a fundamental role in delivering these fuels globally”, just as it does today. Forty percent of all shipping is dedicated to shipping fossil fuels and petrochemicals around the globe.
The study actually states that “ a production potential of more than 10,000 TWh for (net) zero carbon fuels in coastal regions worldwide”, most of these are in the Southern Hemisphere.
In the Executive Summary, “IEA’s Net Zero Emissions by 2050 scenario states electricity demand for hydrogen production (including synthetic ammonia) is expected to be 14,500 TWh by 2050. “
This does require the Oil Rich countries to immediately start investing $Billions in this infrastructure. Based on current experience it is not happening.

Gryf

A couple of investment reports:
“ Hydrogen: the US$600 billion investment opportunitY” https://www.woodmac.com/news/opinion/hydrogen-the-us$600-billion-investment-opportunity/
States that: “all eyes are on ammonia as the most promising industrial consumer of hydrogen”.
Another article from the Hydrogen Council states that the total investment into projects and along the whole value chain amounts to an estimated $500 billion through 2030. Of the total investment, $150 billion, or 30%, can be considered “mature” . https://hydrogencouncil.com/en/hydrogen-insights-updates-july2021/
This needs to happen.

SJC

Shipping uses lots of fuel so the more renewable the better for a lot of reasons

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