The Week in Alt Fuels: The cold feet conundrum
The energy sector is developing zero-emission bunker fuel supply and infrastructure to meet the IMO’s 2030 target of 5-10% uptake. But vessel orders and commercial demand are struggling to keep pace. The IMO wants zero- or near-zero-emission energy to account for at least 5% of international shipping’s energy consumption by 2030, striving for 10%. But ...
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) aims to reach 5-10% zero or near-zero emission energy in international shipping by 2030. However, the shipping industry has a long way to go to meet this goal, as demand for such fuel is lagging. In September 2026, a report by UCL Energy Institute and the Getting to Zero Coalition found that while fuel supply is partially on track, demand remains low.
More ships are being ordered and built with the ability to use zero-emission fuels, but the number of these vessels operating and in demand is still low. Cargo owners' willingness to pay a premium for low-emission fuels has decreased, with some only paying a 3% premium, down from 4.5% in 2024. The global shipping sector needs regulatory certainty and incentives to increase investment in net-zero fuels, as outlined in the upcoming IMO's Net-Zero Framework.
Written by urgent.news from Hellenic Shipping News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.