Source · Select Committees · Environmental Audit Committee
Recommendation 14
14
Accepted
Paragraph: 136
Government's failure to commit to zero-emission marine fuel manufacturing facilities is disappointing.
Recommendation
As with low-carbon aviation fuel, the development of manufacturing capacity for zero-emission marine fuels is vital for the security of the UK’s maritime trade and for the establishment of green shipping corridors. It is disappointing that the Government says it is “not yet able to commit” to the establishment of manufacturing facilities in clean maritime clusters so as to deliver up to 2 TWh of zero-emission marine fuels annually by 2030. Accelerating support for these facilities would bring significant benefits from first mover advantage.
Government Response Summary
The government notes the recommendation, explains the complexity of manufacturing low-carbon marine fuels, and outlines existing support through hydrogen projects, maritime clusters, and the £206m UK SHORE programme for innovation in zero-emission fuels.
Paragraph Reference:
136
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The Government notes this recommendation. The Government has a pipeline of committed low carbon hydrogen projects and is actively exploring ways to supply some of this hydrogen to shipping, either as hydrogen or as hydrogen derivatives. The manufacture of low carbon and zero, and near-zero GHG emission fuel for shipping in the UK is a complex issue and the competitiveness of the UK as a future maritime fuel producer in a nascent international market is not yet fully understood. However, the Government is already supporting low carbon maritime and industrial clusters such as Net Zero Teesside or Zero Carbon Humber. Government has supported innovation in zero-emission marine fuels through the £206m UK Shipping Office for Reducing Emissions (UK SHORE) programme, in which over 40% of projects feature zero GHG emission marine fuels across the first four rounds of the Clean Maritime Demonstration Competitions and Zero Emission Vessels and Infrastructure schemes.