Knowledge base for renewable fuels in shipping

Many ports face difficulties in planning, preparing and realising the availability of renewable fuels for ships in port. There is a lack of data for decision-making, such as which fuels, and what quantities and qualities, will be the most important alternatives to traditional fuels in the future. At the same time, ports have a very long planning horizon that requires today’s investments in fuel infrastructure to be in line with supply and demand beyond 2050.

This project aims to jointly build a knowledge base to develop system-level solutions that facilitate the transition to renewable fuels in shipping, such as methanol, hydrogen and ammonia, so-called H2-derivatives.

The shipping sector is a significant emitter of carbon dioxide, with more than 99% of the world's fleet currently fuelled by fossil oil and gas. If shipping is to reach its net-zero emissions target for 2050, both a significant increase in ship energy efficiency is required, as well as a rapid transition to fuels with low, or no, carbon dioxide emissions. H₂ derivative fuels are predicted to play an essential role in the transition of shipping, and are fuels produced by electrolysis using hydrogen (H₂) as a key input. The hydrogen combines with other substances such as carbon (C) or nitrogen (N) to create energy-rich and storable fuels.

A current lack of knowledge

Around the Baltic Sea, a transition of shipping depends on the ability to produce and manage H2 derivatives. However, there is a lack of knowledge at port authorities, terminal operators, shipping companies and energy providers, as well as authorities and decision-makers who need to support this transition and create better conditions for the expansion of renewable electricity production. Concrete tools and strategies for a transition are missing.

The H₂Derivatives@BSP project will address this need by developing market forecasts for H2 derivatives and techno-economic models to support decisions on future investments. The project also addresses adapted port regulations to handle new fuels, including safety manuals, and bunkering technologies will be defined and tested. The project work is based on communication with all port stakeholders.

Cooperation with northern ports

In the Swedish part of the project, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute is collaborating with Closer/Lindholmen Science Park, LTU Business and Port of Luleå and Port of Piteå in Northern Sweden. The project is funded by Interreg, co-founded by the European Union and supported by the Swedish Transport Administration for the Swedish part of the project. The three-year project involves 15 partners and 22 associated organisations in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Poland and Germany.

The message from the funder Interreg Baltic Sea Region is:

The adoption of low- and zero-carbon maritime fuels in the Baltic Sea Region depends on the ability of seaports to accommodate hydrogen derivatives such as methanol and ammonia. Key stakeholders like port authorities, terminal operators, maritime fuel providers, and energy suppliers need an understanding of the market, technological developments, bunkering infrastructure, regulations, and public communication strategies. Co-financed by Interreg Baltic Sea Region, the H2Derivatives@BalticSeaPorts (H2Deri@BSP) project would address these needs through collaborative development of proof-of-concepts for hydrogen derivative fuels.

Running from March 2025 to February 2028 under the leadership of Port of Hamburg Marketing, the project aims to enhance stakeholder capacity and accelerate the transition to sustainable maritime operations.

Read more about IVL's research on shipping and fuels

H2AMN analyses hydrogen-based solutions for ports
STORM supports the transition to renewable marine fuels in the Nordics
Blue Supply Chains - Could hydrogen be the future of marine fuel?