UMAS and Arup have joined forces to explore actionable ways in which the UK can become an early mover in the shipping industry’s decarbonisation, which are outlined in their report titled, ‘Opportunities for the UK to kick-start shipping’s transition to zero emission fuel’.

The collaboration between UMAS and Arup on this research marks a unique partnership that is striving to address the urgent challenges of maritime decarbonisation. Together, these leading consultancies are combining their expertise to unlock actionable insights that not will only benefit the UK’s maritime industry but also set a proven framework and precedent for global sustainability efforts.

Uncertainty over the development of zero GHG emission fuels, regarding its demand, scalability, and cost-effectiveness is contributing to a lack of confidence among stakeholders, which in turn inhibits crucial and much-needed investments. By combining UMAS’s comprehensive shipping insights and data, and Arup’s expertise on energy production and port infrastructure, this joint research sheds light on the crucial factors that influence scalable zero emission fuel supply and demand in the UK.

The urgency of meeting shipping’s decarbonisation targets is underscored by the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) revised GHG strategy, which sets ambitious goals for zero or near-zero GHG emission energy sources to constitute between 5% and 10% of the energy used by international shipping by 2030. This will require the simultaneous scaling up of production facilities and supply chain infrastructure, including renewable energy creation and green ammonia production facilities.

By investing in this now, the UK’s bunkering fuel ecosystem (ports and fuel producers and sellers) has an opportunity to contribute to these ambitious goals, utilise existing infrastructure and benefit from ongoing government support programs such as the Hydrogen Allocation Rounds.

Leveraging UMAS’s first mover route identification tool, ‘FUSE’, and Arup’s expertise in the evaluation, design, and delivery in zero-emission fuel production, the report demonstrates that while overseas locations may offer lower zero-emission fuel production costs in the long term, the UK has an opportunity to become an early mover in this space while developing critical last-mile infrastructure to help secure its position in the future fuels market.

The research explores the potential impact and infrastructure needed to decarbonise the operations of six large ferries operating regular routes from ports in the North East of England, or seven container vessels operating from ports in the Solent, on the South Coast. The paper demonstrates that the carbon savings that could be made could align shipping in these regions with the most ambitious decarbonisation trajectories for international shipping.

Understanding current shipping energy demand is instrumental in identifying opportunities to concentrate decarbonisation efforts and mitigate investment risks. UMAS has provided key insights into the energy makeup of fleets operating in dynamic port areas such as the North East (including Teesside, the Humber, and the Tyne River) and the Solent strait (Southampton-Portsmouth).

The study found that decarbonising a portion of the energy demand in these regions presents a tangible pathway towards achieving the IMO’s decarbonisation goals. For instance, the estimated demand for heavy fuel oil equivalent in the North East in 2023 amounted to approximately 513 ktonnes, while the Southampton/Portsmouth port area had a demand of around 751 ktonnes. Decarbonising just 10% of this demand using methanol, ammonia, or hydrogen-derived fuels would create substantial progress towards sustainability.

The collaboration between UMAS and Arup on this research also paves the way for further expansion of this model to other regions, across the UK and globally.

By leveraging Arup’s understanding of energy production and port infrastructure alongside UMAS’ unrivalled comprehensive shipping insights and data, this partnership provides a new approach to unlocking decarbonisation opportunities within the maritime sector. This research not only sheds light on crucial factors influencing supply strategy but also demonstrates how such collaborative efforts can identify opportunities and pave the way for actionable solutions.

Chris Thorne, Director of Strategy and Operations, UMAS, commented, “The UK has a real opportunity to become an early mover in shipping’s transition to zero emission fuels. As the research has highlighted, making small, smart changes to our existing fleet will enable the UK to align with the most ambitious international shipping decarbonisation trajectories and showcase the UK as a leader in taking real action in this area.

“We recognise the growing government support directed towards hydrogen-derived fuels. However, further understanding is needed into the specific geographic areas of energy demand for these fuels.

“This collaboration has enabled us to identify actionable opportunities for decarbonisation within the maritime sector for specific areas in the UK. We are well placed to support others in their efforts to navigate the complex landscape of decarbonisation and unlock sustainable pathways for the maritime sector globally.

“Our extensive experience on understanding the make-up of the shipping fleet provides a launch board to identify and prioritise where these specific opportunities lie and to support the shipping industry as a whole in its decarbonisation efforts.”

Sally Prickett, Director, Arup, said, “As the maritime sector shifts to net zero, this research shows the UK’s opportunity to lead global green fuel value chain development. Arup and UMAS have teamed up to tackle technical, commercial, and regulatory hurdles and pinpoint actionable solutions. Our findings pave the way for a transformative shift in global zero-emission shipping. It is an exciting time for the sector, with the UK able to take a leading role in demonstrating how and where investment is required”.