Policy paper

COP26 declaration: Shipping and Offshore Wind – Operation Zero

Published 7 December 2021

Introduction

The most recent study by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) estimates that international shipping accounted for around 1,056 million tonnes of CO2 or around 2.89% of global CO2 emissions in 2018.

The IMO’s initial strategy commits the sector to reducing total annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by at least 50% by 2050 from a 2008 baseline.

The industry-led Getting to Zero Coalition urges its signatories to work towards having commercially viable zero-emission vessels (ZEVs) operating along deep-sea trade routes by 2030, supported by the necessary infrastructure.

This would include alternative fuel production, distribution, storage and bunkering. Through the Getting to Zero Coalition call to action for shipping decarbonisation, over 200 industry leaders have urged governments to commit to decarbonising the shipping sector by 2050, support industrial-scale zero-emission shipping projects through national action and deliver policies that make zero-emission shipping the default by 2030.

The ambition to decarbonise the shipping sector is clear but achieving these commitments requires urgent and tangible action.

Many of the ships that will be circulating in 2050 will go into production in the next few years and the infrastructure needed to maintain them must be developed to support this transition, and people must be trained to use it.

The energy generated by offshore wind farms is likely to form part of the maritime fuel mix of the future. There is also therefore an opportunity for the offshore wind industry not only to decarbonise its supply chain but also to play a part in decarbonising the shipping industry.

Collaborative action from industry leaders across the supply chain is imperative, as is states’ cooperation in helping de-risk these investments and facilitating the path for the industry.

The North Sea Basin

The North Sea Basin is a regional hub for energy production and has just under three-quarters of the world’s installed offshore wind capacity.^{[footnote 1]} The 5 European countries with the largest amount of installed offshore wind capacity (United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark) are all within the North Sea area. Combined, these countries account for just under 98% of all grid-connected offshore wind turbines in Europe.^{[footnote 2]}

The offshore wind sector relies heavily on vessels for, inter alia, the operations and maintenance of the infrastructure needed for energy generation. However, these same vessels are GHG emitters, increasing the carbon footprint of the offshore wind sector.

Operation Zero aims to demonstrate shipping’s leadership in climate action in the offshore wind sector. This effort will be led by a coalition of ambitious industry players from across the offshore wind sector, working together to transform the vessels operating in the North Sea’s offshore wind farms.

Mission statement

The vision of Operation Zero is for ZEVs to be deployed in the North Sea’s offshore wind farms by 2025 while also taking into consideration the landside infrastructure solutions needed to upscale and maintain the operation of ZEVs in the region’s offshore wind sector.

In the pursuit of these goals, members pledge to:

• ensure that wider consideration is taken for environmental impacts and sustainability
• share best practice in the decarbonisation of operations and maintenance vessels in the offshore wind sector
• maintain an open dialogue between industry and government, to facilitate this transition as much as possible
• explore the potential for offshore wind to be a part of shipping’s future fuel mix and for the sector to play an active role in decarbonising the wider maritime industry
• work collaboratively in ensuring that costs and risks inherent to the energy transition are fairly distributed and that all tiers across the supply chain will make an equitable contribution to reaching our collective ambition

NB Any activity undertaken by signatories as part of Operation Zero should comply with relevant laws, including competition law, in their respective jurisdiction(s).

Wider impact

This targeted and collaborative action should allow for quick and efficient results, as well as accelerating the deployment of clean energy – from production to consumption.

Furthermore, by demonstrating that achieving these commitments is possible, the coalition aims to encourage other regions and shipping segments to follow suit and act to transform their own fleets.

Operation Zero is just one step in the right direction towards achieving our IMO targets and to drive the change that we need to see internationally.

Annex A

While acknowledging that fully zero might not be immediately feasible for all, signatory members recognise that fully decarbonised fuels or propulsion technologies should have the capability to not add additional GHGs to the global system through their lifecycle, including production, transport or consumption and are expected to work towards this.

Signatories

Aberdeen Harbour

Associated British Ports

Aluminium Marine Consultants

Artemis Technologies

BAR Technologies

Bibby Marine Services​

Cedar Marine​

Chartwell Marine

Esvagt

GE Power Conversion

Global Marine Group

Lloyd’s Register

Maritime Skills Alliance

MJR Power and Automation

North Star Renewables

Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult

Orsted

Parkwind

Port of Cromarty Firth

Port of Esbjerg

RWE

Seacat Services

Siemens Gamesa

Strategic Marine​

The Workboat Association

Tidal Transit​

Vattenfall

Windcat Workboats

ScottishPower Renewables

1. IRENA (2021). Renewable Energy Statistics 2021 ↩

2. WindEurope (2021). Offshore Wind in Europe – key trends and statistics in 2020 ↩