According to recent research by the Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) and Lloyd’s Register (LR) Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, e-fuel-powered shipping services are expected to be offered in ZEMBA’s next tender.
The report, which summarises the findings of a request for information (RFI) co-run by the two organisations earlier in 2024, found sufficient predicted supply of both e-methanol and e-methanol-capable vessels in the container segment to support ZEMBA’s focus on e-fuel deployment.
ZEMBA’s next tender is scheduled to be issued in early 2025, with the goal of purchasing the environmental features associated with e-fuel-powered services beginning in 2027.
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Ingrid Irigoyen, President and CEO of ZEMBA, said: “ZEMBA’s aim is to open the door to new and increasingly scalable solutions through each of our tender processes.
“Because there are scale limitations to those low carbon fuels that rely on biogenic feedstocks, rapid deployment of hydrogen-derived e-fuels this decade is crucial to ensure that the maritime sector gets on a 1.5 aligned pathway toward full decarbonisation by 2050, at the latest.
“We’re pleased that the RFI results suggest that the maritime sector will be ready to provide ZEMBA’s climate-leading freight buyer members with e-fuel powered shipping for our next tender.”
Nearly 50 ship operators and fuel suppliers from across the world replied to the ZEMBA RFI, which was designed to examine the market readiness of commercial e-fuel adoption in shipping.
The report focuses on the implications of the RFI results for ZEMBA’s upcoming tender, as well as how these findings connect to broader trends in commercial e-fuel adoption in the maritime industry.
The RFI did not inquire about the estimated cost or pricing of e-fuel-powered services.
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Carlo Raucci, Director of Sustainable Fuels and Strategy at Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation Hub, stated: “The results of the RFI offer a valuable glimpse into the emerging market for e-fuels and e-fuel-capable vessels.
“Despite the current gap between e-fuel supply and vessel availability, it’s encouraging to see the potential for e-fuels to make a significant impact on the maritime sector. We’re excited to collaborate with ZEMBA on their second tender, which could be instrumental in driving the widespread adoption of scalable e-fuels in shipping.”
