European Shipowners (ECSA), Airlines for Europe (A4E), which represent the maritime and aviation sectors at the European level, along with the green transport group Transport & Environment (T&E), have issued a joint statement calling on the European Commission and EU member states to increase the production of clean fuels for shipping and aviation in Europe.

The signing organizations emphasize that to meet the European Green Deal’s objectives and ensure the competitiveness of these industries, massive investments are needed.

These investments should aim to produce clean fuels for shipping and aviation in order to decarbonize these hard-to-decarbonize transport sectors.

The document outlines five key actions for Brussels:

Include scalable renewable fuels and the innovative technologies necessary for maritime and aviation transport, two of the most challenging sectors to decarbonize, in the scope of the upcoming Clean Industrial Deal.

Additionally, the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) should be leveraged in accordance with the Competitiveness Compass, to reduce the risks associated with the investments required to rapidly increase the production and distribution of scalable renewable fuels for maritime and aviation transport.

Based on the NZIA, STIP should require that at least 40% of the scalable renewable fuels needed to meet FuelEU Maritime and ReFuelEU Aviation be produced within the EU.

The third key point is to establish a European industrial base for scalable renewable fuels for maritime and aviation by reducing project risks through EU public financial support and ETS national revenues, as well as income certainty mechanisms, such as contracts for difference. This would specifically address uncertainty arising from high production costs of scalable renewable fuels, required long-term purchase commitments, and market volatility, which are currently hindering projects in Europe from delivering large volumes of renewable fuels, especially those based on hydrogen.

They also suggest developing an integrated matchmaking platform to facilitate access to European and member state funding schemes under a one-stop-shop principle. As an improvement to the Hydrogen Bank, this mechanism would simplify applications, increase transparency, and improve communication between companies and authorities.

Lastly, they recommend facilitating the role of airports and ports as energy hubs through renewable fuel infrastructure mandates and fostering international cooperation between ports.

Sotiris Raptis, Secretary General of ECSA, stated, "The Draghi report has concluded that European shipping alone needs €40 billion annually to decarbonize. The Clean Industrial Deal must establish the conditions for clean fuels to be available for shipping. We need enormous investments in clean fuels, certainty through robust binding requirements, and simplified access to public and private financing. This is vital to maintain the international competitiveness of European shipping while ensuring a thriving, innovative industrial cluster."

Meanwhile, William Todts, Executive Director of T&E, said, "Europe urgently needs an industrial strategy to scale up the use of e-fuels in shipping and aviation. Europe has the money, the technical expertise, and the environmental goals. What it lacks is smart financial instruments to kick-start the manufacturing and adoption of hydrogen-based fuels. We must act now to build the industries of the future or risk losing to other global players once again."

Ourania Georgoutsakou, Managing Director of A4E, said, "Airlines and shipowners are coming together to deliver a simple message: we need affordable, scalable renewable fuels and innovative technologies now to help our industries decarbonize. This means the EU must step up and help unlock the vast public and private investments needed to make them a reality. There's no time to lose, and acting today will ensure our industries remain strong, competitive, and more sustainable in the future."