Physical infrastructure: Ports and airports

Shipping

Current status of implementation and existing gaps

A critical enabler for using low-carbon fuels is the development of bunkering facilities at ports. The requirement can vary by region and vessel. Container ships operate on fixed routes, implying ease of planning of the necessary bunkering, while bulk carriers work on an ad hoc basis and therefore require flexibility and foresight in such planning.

Examples and initiatives

Several ports, such as the Port of Rotterdam, Kingdom of the Netherlands, are actively developing bunkering infrastructure for low-carbon fuels such as methanol.

Aviation

Current status of implementation and existing gaps

SAF supply chains can vary depending on the infrastructure that is available at the production site. Currently, SAF must be blended with conventional aviation fuel to achieve the required characteristics. The blending can happen at the refinery, the fuel terminal or directly at the airport. However, to maximise the use of existing infrastructure, it is optimal that the blended fuel reaches the airport (ACI World and ATI, 2022).

Examples and initiatives

Neste commissioned the ONEOK’s terminal in the United States for blending and storing of SAF.

Enablers

Enablers (39)