The Association of European Shipowners (ECSA), has joined with associations representing aviation and green transport in issuing a joint statement calling on the European Commission and the EU member states to ramp up the production of clean fuels in Europe.
Green transport group Transport & Environment (T&E), Airlines for Europe (A4E) and ECSA highlight that meeting the targets of the European Green Deal and ensuring that these industries remain competitive requires immense investments. These investments should aim to produce clean fuels to decarbonise these difficult-to-decarbonise transport sectors. According to the Draghi report, around €100bn in investment is needed annually for European shipping and aviation alone for the energy transition.
The joint statement urges for immediate action and proposes that the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal prioritises scalable renewable fuels for shipping and aviation. The Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) should ramp up the production in the EU of at least 40% of the fuels needed under FuelEU Maritime and ReFuelEU Aviation.
The three organisations support the use of European and national ETS revenues to de-risk projects and the development of a matchmaking platform to facilitate access to clean shipping and aviation fuels. ECSA, A4E and T&E support infrastructure mandates to foster the development of ports and airports as renewable fuel hubs.
Sotiris Raptis, Secretary General, ECSA, said: “The Draghi report has found that European shipping alone needs €40bn annually to decarbonise. The Clean Industrial Deal must set the conditions to make clean fuels available for shipping. We need enormous investments for clean fuels, certainty through robust binding requirements, and simplification of access to public and private financing. This is vital to keep European shipping internationally competitive while ensuring a thriving, innovative industrial cluster.”
William Todts, Executive Director, T&E, added: “Europe badly needs an industrial strategy to scale e-fuels for shipping and aviation. Europe has the money, the know-how and the green goals. What it lacks is clever financial instruments to kickstart manufacturing and uptake of hydrogen-based fuels. We must act now to build the industries of the future or risk losing out to other global players once more.”
Ourania Georgoutsakou , MD A4E, concluded: “Airlines and shipowners are coming together to deliver a simple message: we need affordable, scalable renewable fuels and innovative technologies now to help our industries decarbonise. This means the EU must step up and help unlock the vast public and private investments needed to make them a reality. There’s not a moment to lose and acting today will ensure our industries remain strong, competitive and more sustainable into the future.”
The joint statement can be read here.
