Accelleron unveiled its first maritime decarbonization report, Deadlock: What’s Stopping Shipping’s Carbon-Neutral Fuel Transition?, at London International Shipping Week (LISW25). The report calls on the shipping industry to embrace the global hydrogen economy by partnering with other hard-to-abate sectors to pool demand for carbon-neutral fuels.
Efficiency Can Deliver 2030 Targets
Accelleron’s research highlights that efficiency improvements alone could enable the industry to exceed the IMO’s 2030 emissions-reduction goals. Measures such as vessel retrofits, digital solutions, and operational optimization could deliver over 30% emission cuts by 2030. These “viral” efficiency steps are already being adopted across the global fleet, demonstrating the industry’s capacity for rapid change.
However, the report stresses that efficiency measures, while vital, will not be sufficient to achieve net zero by 2050. To reach full decarbonization, the sector must transition to green hydrogen-based fuels, which remain scarce, costly, and underdeveloped.
Hydrogen Economy Requires Cross-Sector Partnerships
The report emphasizes that shipping cannot achieve affordable carbon-neutral fuels in isolation. Today, fewer than 38 million tons of green hydrogen production are in development worldwide, supported by less than $320 billion in investment—far short of the 500 million tons and $9 trillion in cumulative investment needed across shipping, aviation, steel, cement, power, and agriculture.
Accelleron argues that instead of competing for resources, industries should aggregate demand to create a “critical mass” that reduces risk and unlocks financing for mega hydrogen projects. For shipping alone, 100–150 million tons of green hydrogen annually will be required by 2050.
Shipping as a Driver of the Energy Transition
In his foreword, Accelleron CEO Daniel Bischofberger underlined that the path to net zero is not solely about technology or fuels, but about forging strong partnerships:
By aligning with other heavy-emitting industries, shipping could position itself as a catalyst for the global energy transition. Rather than being a passive participant, the sector has the potential to drive the growth of green hydrogen, leveraging its role as the backbone of global energy and trade.
Accelleron’s report serves as both a warning and a call to action: efficiency measures will deliver near-term progress, but only cross-sector collaboration can unlock the carbon-neutral fuels necessary for long-term decarbonization. Presented at LISW25 alongside a dialogue with shipping and energy leaders, the report challenges the industry to expand its perspective, seeing maritime decarbonization as part of the broader hydrogen economy.
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Source: Xinde Marine News
