New study to assess renewable fuels and infrastructure for net-zero shipping

A collaboration between International Maritime Organization (IMO)'s Future Fuels and Technology project and GreenVoyage2050 programme; the World Maritime University (WMU); and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) aims to assess the current status quo and support informed decision-making on the development of infrastructure required to enable the large-scale uptake of renewable fuels.

The first output of this energy and maritime sector collaboration will be a global study, including country-level case studies, providing insights into both global trends and national contexts.

The study, which was initiated during a virtual meeting (1 April), will provide:

• Overview of global renewable fuel production, supply and demand, including future projections

• Assessment of energy and maritime infrastructure needs, including ports and fuel supply chains

• Identification of key challenges and opportunities for scaling up renewable fuel deployment

• Recommendations on priority actions and long-term strategies to support the development of maritime infrastructure

Meeting the ambitions in IMO's GHG Strategy to reach net-zero GHG emissions from international shipping by or around 2050 will require scaling up global markets for renewable fuels (including sustainable biofuels and e-fuels) and building up their supply chains. This means deployment of renewable energy power infrastructure, renewable fuel production facilities, fuel transport and bunkering infrastructure, other port infrastructure such as shore power, as well as vessels capable of using and transporting these fuels.

The global analysis report is expected to be finalized by third quarter 2026, to include identified priority actions and practical pathways for scaling up renewable fuel supply chains and enabling infrastructure.

In parallel, selected national case studies will be undertaken to explore how these findings apply in specific country contexts.

Results from these case studies are expected to be released by the fourth quarter of 2026.

IMO's project teams will continue working closely with WMU and IRENA to guide the study and support the delivery of practical and policy-relevant findings.

The study reports will be published by IMO on the respective project and partner websites and presented to IMO's Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC).