Why Mexico is ideally placed to become a zero-carbon shipping fuels hub
来源:World Economic Forum;发表于:2022-04-18;人气指数:307
Why
Mexico is ideally placed to become a zero-carbon shipping fuels hub
https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2022/02/mexico-zero-carbon-shipping-fuels/
Manzanillo, Mexico's
busiest port.
Image: Reuters/Alan
Ortega
07 Feb 2022
Emma Skov
Christiansen
Lead, Shipping
Emissions and Ocean Agenda, World Economic Forum Geneva
Rosa Esi Ennison
Project Specialist,
Shaping the Future of Mobility, World Economic Forum
*Mexico holds great
potential for a robust zero-carbon shipping fuels sector.
*Its abundant supply
of renewables means it has the capacity to produce zero- carbon for local
supply and export.
*This will fast-track
Mexico’s transition to a low-carbon economy and provide new green jobs.
With the International
Maritime Organization calling for a 50% decrease in international
shipping emissions by 2050 compared to 2008 rates, stakeholders across the
maritime value chain are committed to commercializing and scaling zero-carbon
vessels and fuels by 2030.
According to a
study conducted by Ricardo and the Environmental Defense Fund for the
P4G-Getting to Zero Coalition Partnership, which also includes the World
Economic Forum, Mexico has the potential to play a key role in transforming
global shipping through green hydrogen-derived fuels and clean electricity.
The report takes
Mexico as its primary focus to understand the potential for adopting
zero-carbon fuels through the local shipping and energy landscape. The report
is published as part of a wider series of studies exploring opportunities for
zero-carbon shipping fuels in emerging economies like Indonesia, South
Africa and Mexico.
Between two oceans
Mexico’s proximity to
important trading partners on the North American coastline along both the
Pacific and Atlantic Oceans eases access to Asian, European and African
markets. This could position the country as a leading supplier for vessels that
visit its ports, as well as a leading exporter of clean fuels.
“Our study has found
that Mexico’s access to busy shipping routes and abundant renewable energy
potential puts it in a good position to help drive the zero-carbon fuel market.
Mexico can potentially supply both its domestic electrical demand as well as
the production of zero-carbon fuels to supply commercial vessels bunkering in
its ports by use of renewable energy,” says Olivia Carpenter-Lomax, Future
Energy Specialist and Project Lead, Ricardo.
“The many
international vessels bunkering in Mexican ports need to be able to refuel
along their journey,” Ingrid Sidenvall Jegou, Project Director, Global Maritime
Forum, also points out.
The study presents
case studies on three major ports along the coast of Mexico to highlight
avenues for reaching local decarbonization targets, opportunities for
diversification of port activities, and the potential for trade in zero-carbon
fuels.
*Manzanillo: The
busiest port in Mexico and a significant point for imports and exports. It has
a high renewable potential and could be a major export hub for locally produced
electrofuels.
*Cozumel: A major
tourist attraction with dense marine traffic. Supporting local production and
uptake of electrofuels can aid the transition to low carbon vessels while
protecting biodiversity.
*Coatzacoalcos: A key
centre for oil logistics in Mexico. Coatzacoalcos holds significant resources
to support renewable energy and the production of electrofuels as Mexico works
to phase out fossil fuels.
The renewables
opportunity
Mexico has rich
renewable energy potential: the country has set targets for a minimum
decrease of 22% in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 50% by 2050, compared
to the year 2000. Decarbonizing the local shipping sector through the
exploration of green fuels like hydrogen and ammonia is one way for it to reach
this goal.
“The study has
identified hydrogen and ammonia as the most suitable options for large
commercial vessels such as tankers, containers and bulk carriers, while small
vessels such as port service vessels can be supplied through electrification.
The renewable energy potential along with the advantageous locations of ports
gives Mexico the opportunity to play a crucial role in driving the zero-carbon
shipping fuel transition,” says Dr. Santiago Suarez de la Fuente, Lecturer in
Energy and Transport, UCL Energy Institute.
Mexico's predicted
energy mix for 2030
Image: World Economic
Forum
The benefits of
adopting zero-carbon fuels go beyond facilitating shipping decarbonization.
With the exploration of low-carbon fuel production, Mexico could see an
increase in green job creation and subsequently a need for reskilling the
workforce. Furthermore, the transition could support decarbonization in other
hard-to-abate sectors and put Mexico in the position to be a major exporter of
green commodities, supporting global demand for low carbon products.
“Mexico may benefit in
various ways from carrying a zero-carbon shipping fuels sector. Apart from
ensuring that the country reaches its wider decarbonization goals, locally
deployed renewables can also create energy security and help catalyze the low
carbon economy in Mexico by supporting decarbonization of other sectors,
creating a wide range of jobs,” states Pedro Gomez, Head of Shaping the Future
of Mobility, Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum.
How does Mexico reach
its green potential?
Handling zero-carbon
fuels is not without its risks. The study outlines the importance of
regulations and best practices to support the safe roll-out of these clean
energy sources. The IMO’s International Code of Safety for Ships using
Gases is a key example of standards and guidelines that encourage safe
practices for transportation, storage and use of fuels like green hydrogen and
ammonia. As the adoption of clean fuels increases and pilot projects are put in
place, industry and policy-makers will identify additional pathways to mitigate
associated risks.
There is also is a
growing need for investment in renewable electricity, clean fuels and their
supporting infrastructure to meet future demand. At the moment, there is an
investment potential of 130-188 billion Mexican pesos for infrastructure to
enable a 5% adoption of zero-carbon vessel technologies by 2030, the
minimum rate of adoption determined to enable alignment with Paris Agreement
targets.
Attracting foreign
and private investment would require regular demand from the global shipping
sector and a supportive political landscape. As actors within the shipping
value chain support Mexican policy-makers and demonstrate that shipping
decarbonization is feasible, Mexico’s potential to supply zero-emission fuels
could give way to real growth and business opportunity.
In summary, Mexico’s
outstanding renewable energy potential, geographical proximity to key shipping
routes and strong trade agreements could catalyze shipping decarbonization
through scaling zero-carbon fuel bunkering and expanding exports in hydrogen
fuels. This would have a long-lasting impact on the local economy as green jobs
are created and local supply chains are strengthened.
“The shift towards
zero-carbon shipping needs to accelerate within the next decade and effective
regulation will also create opportunities for countries to catalyze and benefit
from this necessary transition. By moving early, Mexico can become a central
actor in supplying the global demand for green fuel and a pioneer within
zero-carbon shipping fuel production,” says Panos Spiliotis, Global Climate
Shipping Manager, Environmental Defense Fund.