On November 5th, the Commission unveiled the Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP).
The initiative introduces a common approach to investments in renewable and low-carbon fuels, particularly focussing on aviation and waterborne transport, comprising both maritime and inland navigation.
The STIP underpins the targets spelled out in RefuelEU Aviation and FuelEU Maritime which require shipping to reduce its GHG intensity by 14.5 percent by 2035 and airports to move to a fuel mix of 70% sustainable aviation fuels. These targets require the availability of 20 million tonnes of sustainable fuels by 2035.
To contribute to the availability of sustainable fuels, the STIP is set to mobilise EUR 2.9 billion of EU investments by 2027 via the following funding mechanisms:
- EUR 2 billion of investments under InvestEU. These investments can support projects in clean tech and clean mobility, covering the entire value chain from fuel production to distribution and use;
- EUR 300 million will be allocated through the Hydrogen Bank, particularly focussing on the production of hydrogen for off-takers in the maritime and aviation sectors;
- EUR 446 million will be channelled to synthetic aviation fuels and maritime fuel projects via the Innovation Fund. This money will be distributed between 4 sustainable aviation fuels’ projects and 5 maritime fuels’ projects;
- EUR 133.5 million of Horizon Europe funds will be dedicated to fuels-related research and innovation.
The Commission is also exploring support measures for sustainable maritime fuel production in the EU as part of the ETS review, and encourages Member States to allocate part of the revenues they are getting from the EU ETS for investments in decarbonising the maritime and aviation sectors, including via renewable and low-carbon fuels.
For the inland waterways sector, the Commission will launch a study in 2026 to assess its decarbonisation and identify potential regulatory changes that could contribute to an increased uptake of alternative fuels.
The Commission finally remains committed to accelerate the production of sustainable maritime fuels and the deployment of bunkering facilities in strategic ports worldwide under the Global Gateway Green Shipping Corridors (GGGSC) initiative, which is currently in its early stages of implementation.
FEPORT supports the Commission’s aims to enhance the availability of clean fuels for the maritime sector. However, initiatives aimed at supporting deployment and distribution should be done in consultation with terminals as fuels will be distributed in the port, impacting operational, safety and spatial arrangements, among others. In addition, public investments should simultaneously support the rollout of onshore power supply as the 2030 targets spelled out in AFIR are fast approaching. Finally, when supporting the production and deployment of bunkering facilities in third countries, impacts on the competitiveness of ports in the EU should be carefully considered.
