A number of partnership agreements on hydrogen have been signed at the Cop27 conference in Egypt.

Ten organisations—including industry associations Green Hydrogen Catapult, Getting to Zero Coalition, GH2 and the Aspen Institute’s Shipping Decarbonization Initiative, developers Acwa Power, Intercontinental Energy, CWP Global and Fortescue Future Industries (FFI), technology firm Man Energy Solutions and shipping firm Maersk—have today signed a joint statement on green hydrogen and green shipping at the conference. The signatories commit to full decarbonisation of the shipping sector by 2050, the deployment of commercially viable zero-emission vessels from 2030 and a target of 5.5mn t/yr green hydrogen production capacity by the same year.

Existing commitments made by Green Hydrogen Catapult—members of which include Acwa, CWP, FFI, Iberdrola, Orsted and Snam—would be able to supply 90pc of the shipping sector’s green hydrogen demand by 2030, according to the joint statement. The signatories also aim to progress wider sector commitments to scale up investment and deployment of green hydrogen infrastructure and zero-emission vessels and fuels.

5.5mn t/yr – 2030 target green hydrogen production capacity under joint statement

The signatories also call on the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and its member states to set a goal of 100pc emissions reduction on a well-to-wake basis for the maritime sector by 2050, with interim emissions reduction targets for 2030 and 2040, as well as a target for 5pc zero-emission fuels use by 2030.

“The window for action is now—the IMO is in the process of revising its greenhouse gas targets and strategy and adopting the measures that, along with further green corridors and commitments from private sector actors, will set the path for decarbonisation of the sector,” says the joint statement, adding that the revised strategy—scheduled to be adopted in spring 2023—must be “ambitious”.

Pilot projects in Eastern Europe

Over the weekend, US climate envoy John Kerry and the Ukrainian energy minister German Galushchenko announced a pilot project to demonstrate production of low-carbon hydrogen and ammonia using small modular nuclear reactors coupled with solid-oxide electrolysers in Ukraine. The pilot project aims to support Ukraine’s energy and food security, according to a statement.

The project’s partners include the US’ Argonne National Laboratory and Ukraine’s Energoatom, the National Security and Defense Council, the State Scientific and Technical Center for Nuclear and Radiation Safety, as well as private companies Clark Seed, Doosan Enerbility, Fuelcell Energy, IHI Corporation, JGC Corporation, Nuscale Power, Samsung, and Starfire Energy.

Last week also saw the signing of a framework agreement between the government of Kazakhstan and FFI to explore potential projects for renewable energy sources and green hydrogen production in the country.

FFI had also signed a framework agreement with Kenya aiming to fast-track development of green hydrogen and its derivatives for an affordable green fertiliser supply chain.

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Author: Polly Martin