NEWS & INSIGHTS | Opinion
Shipping industry faces fuel supply and infrastructure challenge under net zero rules
Luca Corradi
Luca works to bring “the outside in”, connecting innovators and academics across sectors and disciplines, to explore the latest technologies that could be adopted to address oil and gas industry challenges. Leading The Net Zero Technology Centre’s horizon scanning activity, he identifies emerging technology trends, cutting through the hype to identify potential areas of impact and application. With a background in business and organisational change leadership, Luca has developed a strong network and is passionate about harnessing this to deliver the next generation of the net zero energy industry.
Outside work Luca loves reading, music and travel. He is married with two young daughters and a dog. He enjoys the rare motorbike ride in Scotland and even rarer ski trip on the Alps.
This week in net zero: GB Energy Strategic Priorities, Maritime Forecast, Hydrogen to Power Trial
Chief Technology Officer at NZTC, Luca Corradi, and his team closely monitor the global net zero landscape. They follow the trends, policies, investments and technological innovations that, together, bring the world closer to its shared climate goals. Learn more about our horizon scanning service. This week, Luca and his team look at Great British Energy’s role in delivering Clean Power 2030, new global fuel and emission rules for maritime, and the first hydrogen-to-power trial in the UK.
UK Government sets strategic priorities for Great British Energy to lead the energy transition
Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has outlined his vision for how Great British Energy (GBE) will help deliver on the UK government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower.
The UK government has published a statement of strategic priorities for GBE, focusing on three key areas:
- Investing in emerging and established technologies to support Clean Power 2030 and beyond
- Strengthening domestic supply chains to build long-term domestic resilience and economic growth
- Empowering local and community initiatives, working with the government to deliver a Local Power Plan that ensures local people and communities benefit from the clean energy transition
Under Great British Energy Act 2025, GBE has flexibility to explore opportunities aligned with its objectives. This includes but is not limited to renewables, energy storage, and low-carbon technologies.
Miliband expects GBE to play a key role in advancing technologies at Technology Readiness (TRL) 6-9, while also supporting the deployment of proven renewable solutions needed for clean power.
GBE is also encouraged to leverage its Aberdeen headquarters, drawing on the city’s world-leading engineering expertise, skills and knowledge. GBE should work towards becoming a financially sustainable and self-financing organisation. The government has set a target for Great British Energy to start making returns on its commercial activities as a whole by 2030.
Maritime industry prepares for global shift in fuel and emissions standards
With the adoption of the International Maritime Organisation’s (IMO) Net-Zero Framework in October, the maritime industry is entering a new phase in its approaches to fuel and emissions. The framework sets global requirements for fuel intensity and emissions pricing, strengthening the case for low-greenhouse gas fuels, efficiency technologies and carbon capture.
Fleet readiness is advancing, but fuel supply and infrastructure must scale up to meet ambitious targets.
Currently, 1,539 vessels in operation can run on bio-LNG or e-LNG, compared to just three capable of operating on blue ammonia or e-ammonia. There are 106 bunkering facilities serving to bio-LNG and e-LNG, while ammonia has only one. Global biodiesel production stands around 20 million tonnes oil equivalent (Mtoe), compared to roughly 1Mtoe for bio-methanol and e-methanol.
By 2030, the global fleet is expected to be capable of consuming over 50 Mtoe of low-GHG fuels annually (excluding biodiesel). However, scaling up production remains a challenge. Hydrogen and its derivatives are particularly affected, with only around 4 per cent of the hydrogen-derived low-GHG fuel projects pipeline reaching final investment decision.
Maritime wind energy can potentially contribute to reduced fuel consumption. Several pilot wind-assisted propulsion systems (WAPS) are being tested and moving into commercial operation. Uptake of onboard carbon capture (OCC) is also increasing, but requires the development of regulatory frameworks, the installation of equipment on ships and supporting infrastructure on land.
In the UK, the Department for Transport has announced £448 million in funding to support the decarbonisation of shipping.
Numbers of ships with alternative fuel capabilities in the order book compared to existing fleet (inc. LNGC)
Maritime Forecast to 2050 aims to improve understanding of the International Maritime Organisations (IMO) Net-zero Framework (NZF) and provides insight into the status of the maritime fuel transition.
Credit: dnv.com
UK first hydrogen-to-power trial
Centrica and HiiROC, supported by the NZTC have successfully demonstrated the injection of hydrogen into a gas-fired peak power plant at Centrica’s Brigg Energy Park, North Lincolnshire.
HiiROC’s modular Thermal Plasma Electrolysis (TPE) technology was used to produce hydrogen on site. The hydrogen was blended at a 3% ratio for the purposes of a one-hour trial.
The trial marks a UK first in using hydrogen to decarbonise peak power generation. By leveraging the existing gas network and co-locating hydrogen production where it is needed operators can reduce emissions without costly new infrastructure.
HiiROC’s proprietary TPE process uses the electrical field in their patented plasma torches to split apart hydrocarbons to produce hydrogen and carbon black. It produces hydrogen using just one-fifth of the electricity needed for water electrolysis and doesn’t produce CO2, making it compliant with the UK’s Low Carbon Hydrogen Standard (LCHS).
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