A General Protocol for Collaboration has been signed between A.P. Moller – Maersk (Maersk) and the Spanish government which will see the duo exploring opportunities for large-scale green fuel production in the Andalusia and Galicia regions of Spain.
The project seeks to explore the feasibility on how to cover the full value chain from renewable energy sources to bunkering of vessels. If production in the country goes ahead, the pair estimates that up to 2 million metric tons of green fuels could be produced each year.
At present, the availability and cost of green biofuels is considered a major challenge for the global shipping sector as it aims to decarbonize. It is estimated that Maersk alone needs six million metric tons of green methanol annually to achieve the company’s 2030 milestone fleet emissions target. A larger quantity will also be needed if Maersk is to hit its 2040 target of a net zero fleet.
Maersk has 19 vessels capable of running on green methanol which will enter operations between 2023 and 2025 and require an estimated 750,000 metric tons of green methanol. Seven strategic partnerships have been made by the company to secure the necessary fuel volumes required by the vessels.
“We are living in a climate emergency, and we need to rapidly accelerate the availability of green future fuels,” said Soren Skou, CEO, Maersk. “We are very pleased to explore green fuel opportunities with the Spanish government, as the country holds key characteristics to help solve this challenge with its great hydrogen ambitions and aspiring sustainability goals. At the same time, Spain encompasses significant renewable resources and is placed along key shipping routes.”
“Operating a large fleet of container vessels [means] we are part of the climate problem, and we have made the choice to take an active part in shaping the solutions to secure a green and just transition, enabling the global shipping industry to deliver on the Paris Agreement and Maersk to achieve its 2040 net-zero target,” explained Henriette Hallberg, CEO fleet and strategic brands, Maersk. “To achieve our goals, we need to collaborate with partners who are actively looking at green solutions for the future.”