GCMD joins Clean Energy Marine Hub initiative

THE GLOBAL Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation has joined the Clean Energy Marine Hub (CEM) initiative.

The CEM Hub initiative aims to advance the production, transport and use of low-carbon fuels in shipping.

The International Chamber of Shipping and the International Association of Ports & Harbors proposed the initiative. It is now led by an industry taskforce of chief executives and energy ministers under the Clean Energy Ministerial banner.

Canada, Norway, Uruguay, Panama and the UAE are backing the initiative, and the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is supporting it.

GCMD joined the CEM Hubs initiative ahead of its formal launch at the 14^th Clean Energy Ministerial meeting, to be held in India next month.

GCMD CEO Lynn Loo said the centre had been in discussion with the ICS about ways to contribute to the initiative.  

“I am proud to have been part of the ICS-led delegation to the IRENA Assembly in January, voicing the role shipping can play to facilitate the greater energy transition,” she said.

“For shipping to access green fuels and to support the global energy transition, infrastructure needs to be established at ports and demand aggregated with other sectors.

“We hope to contribute to this effort by helping to identify and address technical and operational gaps in the green fuels supply chain, and by sharing learnings from our pilots with this community.”

CEM Hubs Task Force chair Esben Poulsson noted GCMD had joined the initiative weeks before the formal launch of the initiative.

“The goals and missions of the GCMD align with those of the CEM Hubs initiative and add great value to the partnership that is being developed.

“I am confident that together we are in an even stronger position to move forwards, catalyse the global energy transformation and help to de-risk future investments not just for shipping but the entire world.”

And Clean Energy Ministerial acting head of secretariat Prasoon Agarwal said the initiative had received strong support from across the global clean energy community since it was announced.

“As the initiative continues to grow its global visibility and partnerships, we welcome the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation to the initiative ahead of its launch and hopeful to see a strong presence of global maritime community, engaging with the energy community in Goa next month.”