To support and advance future maritime fuel technology and investment, the U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) released a Request for Information (RFI) to establish a consistent and reliable definition for sustainable maritime fuel (SMF) that informs and aligns community, industry, governments, and other maritime stakeholders. The Action Plan for Maritime Energy and Emissions Innovation (Action Plan), a summary of which was released in December 2024, builds on the 2023 U.S. National Blueprint for Transportation Decarbonization to define actions that aim to achieve a clean, safe, accessible and affordable US maritime transportation system. The Action Plan calls for the Federal government to define “Sustainable Maritime Fuel,” which is critical to evaluating and determining future SMF production volume goals in the Action Plan and alternative fuels that align with the U.S. 2050 net emission goals.
“The global maritime sector is pursuing sustainable maritime fuels. The United States is well positioned to be a global leader in producing, distributing, and selling these sustainable fuels that can provide more affordable options to the market,” said Michael Berube, deputy assistant secretary for sustainable transportation & fuels, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. “This Request for Information will help align the industry around common definitions, enabling broader adoption across the economy.”
The US maritime sector connects virtually every aspect of American life—from our clothes and food, to our cars, and the oil and natural gas used to heat and cool homes. About 99% of US overseas trade enters or leaves the United States by ship. This waterborne cargo and associated activity contribute more than $500 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product and sustain over 10 million US jobs. However, the Action Plan estimates the total amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fuel sold in the United States for use in maritime applications accounts for 4% of the U.S. transportation sector’s GHG emissions.
Replacing traditional fuels with SMFs is the quickest strategy to reduce GHG emissions from the maritime sector. Depending on the primary feedstock of sustainable fuels, GHG emissions can be reduced by at least 50% (ex. using biomass) and up to over 100% (ex. using waste). While drop-in fuel replacement solutions are currently being developed, the maritime industry cannot rely solely on these replacements. Vessels must look towards alternative energy sources such as clean methanol, ammonia, hydrogen, electrification, and efficiency improvements as the industry moves towards zero- and near zero-emission fuels.
While the RFI was published by USDOE, this is a collaborative interagency effort including, but not limited to, the US Department of Transportation, Department of Agriculture, Department of State, and Environmental Protection Agency. The RFI also seeks specific feedback on other topics that could affect what qualifies as a SMF including; minimum carbon intensity reductions, sustainability factors, criteria air pollutant inclusion, acceptable feedstocks, global requirements, and emission reduction technologies.
Responses to the USDOE’s RFI must be submitted electronically as a Microsoft Word (.docx) attachment to DefiningSMF@ee.doe.gov, no later than 5:00 pm (ET) on February 28, 2025. Learn more about how to respond to the RFI.
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