Decarbonisation Technology - November 2023 Issue

the key to stimulating the initial deployment of low- and zero-carbon fuels that is needed. The objective to reach 5% of energy demand by 2030 will be challenging. The sooner IMO can provide clarity on how the envisioned technical fuel GHG standard will be introduced, the higher the probability that the 5% target can be achieved. It should be noted that ships will need compliance options, as not all existing ships will be able to accommodate alternative fuels, and they may not be able to access low- or zero-carbon fuels. Finally, a critical factor in the development of IMO’s mid-term measures is the finalisation of the well-to-wake (WtW) GHG footprint methodology, the so-called LCA guidelines. The framework for this tool was agreed at MEPC 80 (IMO, 2023), but significant work remains to develop default GHG footprint values for the alternative fuels that are being developed. Due attention will need to be given to the verification and certification processes needed to guarantee that fuels on the market realise actual GHG savings and that fraud is detected and sanctioned. However, clarity on how WtW footprints will be calculated is needed to provide

certainty to investors in near-zero carbon fuel production facilities. Conclusion IMO has taken a major step forward with the adoption of its revised GHG strategy in July 2023. The energy efficiency measures rolled out since 2011 have contributed to an improvement in CI of at least 20% since 2008. Further measures to be adopted will now need to focus on the transition to near-zero carbon fuels. To achieve the objectives of the 2030 GHG strategy, the development of IMO’s mid-term measures needs to proceed swiftly according to the timetable included in the revised strategy. That is critical to provide the certainty of demand needed to attract the vast amount of capital to speed up the production of alternative fuels.

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Eddy Van Bouwel evbouwel@skynet.be

CALL FOR PAPERS!

If you have a leading industry paper or case study you’d like to share with the decarbonisation community, we want to hear from you. Themes to be explored for 2024 include: • How (well) are policy and industry working together? • Finance and investment opportunities, strategies and pitfalls • The CCUS landscape – funding, technology and policy • Hydrogen – potential vs progress in policy, technology and investment

• Developments in i ndustrial clusters and hubs • Alternative fuels and bio economy circularity • Energy transition and tomorrow’s energy mix

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24/10/2023 13:09