40% US shipping energy can be replaced with green solutions

A new report by UMAS, commissioned by The Ocean Conservancy titled “The Maritime Fleet of the USA—the current status and potential for the future” shows, for the first time, the scale of U.S. shipping fleet emissions and opportunities to decarbonise the sector. In 2018, carbon emissions from all U.S.-flagged vessels amounted to around 26 million tonnes, approximately 2.4% of global shipping emissions. Domestic shipping voyages accounted for about 70% of carbon emissions from the U.S.-flagged shipping fleet, which presents a unique opportunity for U.S. actions to effectively decarbonize the American maritime sector.

More than 40% of the energy used by the U.S. fleet could be replaced with zero emissions solutions this decade. The report estimates that 17% of the current U.S. fleet’s energy demands can be substituted with electrification. This would mean, for example, ships relying on battery electrification for shorter voyages or ships running off onshore electric power sources when in harbor. The Gulf of Mexico and northwest coasts of the U.S. are primed to move towards electrification given existing routes. A further 24% of the U.S. fleet’s energy demands, oftentimes coming from longer voyages than battery power alone can support, can be met with zero-emissions fuels such as green hydrogen. These technologies are already available and adopting them would require minimal infrastructure updates and can happen within the existing renewal schedule and will not require needing to scrap and rebuild ships ahead of schedule. The Pacific, Gulf of Mexico and Great Lakes  are top candidates for the adoption of zero-emission fuels.

“There is enormous potential for the U.S. to be a global leader in maritime decarbonization. This is due to 3 main factors: energy and technology expertise, lots of coastal and inland shipping activity and geographically favorable conditions. Our models show that this combination makes the U.S a prime candidate for developing domestic and international green corridors.” – says Dr Jean-Marc Bonello, Principal Consultant at UMAS. “The current ambitious administration has the chance to make this a decade of change for the industry in the U.S. at the time when rapid action is needed to achieve science-based climate targets.”

In order to meet climate targets set by the U.S. government, the sector must transition away from the use of fossil fuels and shift towards true zero-emission fuels. “The U.S. is calling for the ambitious goal of 100% zero-carbon global shipping by 2050, and this report explores how we can lead the way through actions that decarbonize the U.S. domestic fleet” says Delaine McCullough, policy manager for Ocean Conservancy’s Shipping Emissions program. “Through policies and investments that drive innovation in vessel propulsion systems, zero-emission fuels and infrastructure, the U.S. can strengthen domestic industry, create good jobs and accelerate the global shipping transition.”

Existing US regulations under the Jones Act – which, among other things, requires goods transported between US ports be carried on vessels flying the U.S. flag that are also built in the U.S. and owned and operated by US citizens – provide the United States with a unique opportunity to drive decarbonization of domestic shipping and the adoption of zero-emission fuels and electrification. By already relying on US production, the domestic fleet can introduce new zero-carbon vessels as older vessels are decommissioned or retrofitted on already existing schedules. By acting early to decarbonize domestic shipping, the U.S. can create new jobs and help build domestic firms’ market share globally in both shipping and emerging zero-emissions fuels, particularly hydrogen-based fuels.

By transitioning the domestic fleet away from fossil fuels, the U.S. can become a global leader in shipping decarbonization and kickstart the international transition to zero emissions shipping. Eliminating carbon emissions from the shipping industry is essential if the U.S. and countries around the world are serious about meeting the goals of the Paris Agreement as well as their own domestic climate goals.