Denmark is one of the world´s most progressive countries in terms of GHG reduction ambitions and for developing green fuels. And Denmark hosts some of the most important market players of the Maritime Industry, like DFDS or Maersk.

Therefore expectations using low emission fuels and getting faster to the target of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) – to reduce the GHG emission until 2050 by 50 % compared to 2008 – are very high.

At Copenhagen´s Power2X-konference, hosted by DFDS and House of Energy, around 130 experts came together to discuss the potentials of green electricity based fuels (Powerfuels) as integrated part of Denmark´s energy system and especially for the purposes of shipping.

Anders Nordstrøm, Vice President for Hydrogen, Ørsted, presented the perspective of Energy Industry on the potentials of wind power and green Hydrogen as part of the sector integration. Claus Møller, CEO, Siemens A/S, added that Hydrogen will play a central role in the company´s development strategy and underlined the need for stable Powerfuel demand to scale up electrolysers and bring down the costs towards 2030. Preben Birr-Pedersen, CEO & Cluster Manager, House of Energy and Hans-Åge Nielsen, Chief Business Development Manager, Gas Storage Denmark supported this idea and emphazised to start bigger flagship projects in Denmark.

From the point of Maritime Industry it´s now to analyse what kind of powerfuel can be the best future fuel – green ammonia, methanol, LNG or maritime diesel. Tue Johannessen, Senior Innovation Portfolio Manager, Maersk, favoured in general carbon free fuels like ammonia, but made clear that that this isn´t a final strategy decision. Jakob Steffensen, Head of Innovation & Partnerships, DFDS, discussed the cost challenges of alternative fuels for the shipping companies, as they are part of an international competition.

Before the final panel discussion, Stefan Siegemund, Director Mobility and Alternative Energy Sources of German Energy-Agency (dena), presented targets and approach of the Global Alliance Powerfuels. From his point, Powerfuel market development has to be a global approach, while Europe, North America and parts of Asia have to be the first movers for powerfuel demand. In the next year especially the Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) has to clarify potential source of electricity and carbon for powerfuels. But, beyond that the cooperation of stakeholder of different industries is needed for a kind of "coalition of the willing" to create a market driven powerfuel demand for mid- to large scale projects.

Pictures: Carsten Lundager