Briefing

IMO and‭ sustainable‬‭ fuels criteria‬

October 24, 2024

Alternative‬‭ marine‬‭ fuels‬‭ come‬‭ with‬‭ different‬‭ well-to-wake‬‭ (WtW)‬‭ GHG‬‭ footprint.‬‭ Currently‬‭ there‬ ‭ are‬‭ no‬‭ fuels‬‭ in‬‭ production‬‭ that‬‭ can‬‭ deliver‬‭ zero‬‭ GHG‬‭ on‬‭ a‬‭ life-cycle‬‭ basis.‬‭ But‬‭ some‬‭ renewable‬ ‭ fuel‬‭ pathways‬‭ do‬‭ have‬‭ the‬‭ potential‬‭ to‬‭ eventually‬‭ reach‬‭ that‬‭ target,‬‭ while‬‭ others‬‭ will‬‭ always‬‭ have‬ ‭ substantial residual emissions in the production chain.‬ ‭

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Briefing

To provide certainty for renewable fuels that could theoretically deliver IMO Revised Strategy’s mid and long-term decarbonisation objectives – while minimising the risks of stranded assets for the fuel and technology options that cannot – it is essential to introduce a robust GHG reduction criteria to the definition zero and near-zero emission fuels . We propose introducing the following transitional GHG reduction thresholds to qualify as such.

Sustainable fuels are electrolytic hydrogen-derived fuels that deliver:

At least 90% WtW CO₂e emissions reduction relative to the fossil fuel baseline from 2030 onwards, or a maximum of 9.4 g CO₂e /MJ of energy GHG intensity;
At least 95% WtW CO₂e emissions reduction relative to the fossil fuel baseline from 2040 onwards, or a maximum of 4.7 g CO₂e /MJ energy GHG intensity;
100% WtW CO₂e emissions reduction from 2050 onwards.

Such a definition would ensure that only the fuels with long-term full decarbonisation potential, especially those derived from electricity, are promoted through the IMO GFS without prescribing the specific type of on-board conversion tech.

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