Towards zero: Parthways for decarbonising global shipping

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TOWARDS ZERO

Pathways for decarbonising global shipping

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TOWARDS ZERO – DENMARK'S PUSH TO DECARBONISE GLOBAL SHIPPING

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TOWARDS ZERO Pathways for decarbonising global shipping Version 2.0 September 2025 Front page photo Venti Views – Unsplash Editors: State of Green Emma Askov August Eiberg Emilie Rimkus Selck Contributor/Knowledge partner Danish Shipping Danish Maritime Authority Cases provided by Cadeler, DHI, Hempel, Mærsk, Port of Esbjerg, RelyOn, Stillstrom.

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Content A maritime nation focused on green solutions

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Scaling offshore wind to enable shipping's green transition

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Case: Cadeler

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Case: Stillstrom by Mærsk

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Creating the conditions for a green fuel market Case: Mærsk How energy efficiency accelerates green shipping

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Case: Hempel

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Case: DHI

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Realising the potential for carbon capture, utilisation and storage

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Why green shipping demands a growing workforce

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Case: Port of Esbjerg

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Case: RelyOn

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Ensuring a just, equitable and green transition

PHOTO CREDIT: GARY WALKER JONES | UNSPLASH

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PHOTO CREDIT: THOR | THYBORON

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A maritime nation focused on green solutions This publication illustrates how Danish solutions, from decades of expertise, can help the global shipping industry meet the IMO’s net-zero goal by 2050.

Setting a global course for net zero In 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) set a course for net-zero emissions from international shipping by or around 2050 with the adoption of its greenhouse gas strategy. This was followed in April 2025 by the approval of the Net-Zero Framework, the first climate law in history to mandate a global industry to cut emissions. The framework introduces annual emissions reduction requirements, a carbon price on fossil fuels starting in 2028 and strict “well-to-wake” certification of all fuels. It's pending final adoption in October 2025.

This global ambition reflects the urgent need to decarbonise one of the most hard-to-abate sectors in the world, shipping. With more than five decades of experience in the green energy transition and a strong maritime heritage, Denmark is well positioned to contribute to this transformation. This publication highlights existing solutions that support the decarbonisation of the global shipping industry: from green fuels and energy-efficiency to port infrastructure and deployment of renewable energy.

TOWARDS ZERO – DENMARK'S PUSH TO DECARBONISE GLOBAL SHIPPING

Despite being a small country, Denmark is the 12th largest flag state in the world measured by gross tonnage. To give a sense of that scale, every fifth minute a Danish-operated ship calls at a port somewhere in the world. Building on this global footprint and a commitment to sustainability, Denmark has turned its extensive maritime activity into a testing ground for green shipping solutions.

Momentum for transformation Today, 90 percent of world trade is transported by sea, accounting for three percent of the global greenhouse gas emissions. For years, the shipping industry trailed behind in the green transition. But that is changing.

With the IMO’s 2050 net-zero target and supporting framework now in motion, the sector has entered a period of significant transformation. The framework means real momentum for climate action in the sector, although there is still much to realise.

alongside significant improvements in energy efficiency.

These shifts will bring structural changes to the sector, including the redesign of vessels, the development of new supply chains and updates to port infrastructure and operations. While some pathways remain unclear, the sector is already entering a period of significant transformation.

This publication is structured around the areas of shipping that are critical to meeting the 2050 net-zero target. It begins by examining shipping’s role in enabling offshore wind, followed by the emerging market of green fuels. It then outlines energy efficiency’s role as a cost-effective lever for decarbonisation. Next, the publication turns to carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) as means of reducing emissions. The publication then highlights the need for workforce upskilling before finally focusing on the necessity of ensuring a just and inclusive transition.

Achieving maritime decarbonisation requires low-carbon energy sources, such as e-fuels, biofuels and electricity,

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Scaling offshore wind to enable shipping’s green transition Offshore wind is the cornerstone for the green transition of shipping, both as a source of renewable power and as a sector built on maritime expertise.

The scale-up of offshore wind is essential to shipping’s global transition to net zero, whether it concerns producing green hydrogen for fuels such as green ammonia and green methanol, or supplying electricity directly to battery-driven ships.

In 1972, Denmark started exploration of oil and gas in the North Sea. Two decades later, as a shift from fossil fuels to renewables picked up momentum, Denmark was the first country in the world to build an offshore wind farm. Today, wind energy is the backbone of Denmark’s electricity supply, covering more than 54 percent of Denmark’s electricity consumption in 2024.

Denmark’s energy transformation over the past decades has been shaped by grassroots movements, industrial pioneering, public engagement and an unwavering political commitment to phasing out fossil fuels. This history provides a solid foundation for accelerating the green transition in sectors like shipping.

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Shipping’s rising demand for renewable energy Shipping is beginning to adopt propulsion systems based on green energy sources. An increasing number of batterydriven vessels are in operation, and the first uses of green fuels produced from renewable energy are underway.

However, much more wind energy is required if shipping is to fully transition to green energy-based propulsion.

The world’s 100,000 shipping vessels consume roughly 300 million tonnes of fuel every year. To replace this consumption and meet the net-zero target with green fuels, the shipping industry alone would require three–four times the renewable energy capacity Europe has today. It is crucial that this energy is additional and not diverted from the broader electrification of society, which often achieves a higher greenhouse gas reduction per green electron.

Scaling offshore wind to meet future energy needs To meet the need for a massive build-out of renewables, nine North Sea and neighbouring countries signed the

Ostend Declaration, committing to 300 GW offshore wind by 2050. Similarly, the Baltic Sea nations joined forces in Denmark, where the Marienborg Declaration was signed which set the target of expanding the regions offshore wind capacity to 93 GW by 2050. Combined, these commitments from countries in the Baltic and North Seas amount to 393 GW of offshore wind by 2050.

500 millon tonnes of green fuel will be needed by 2040, requiring 2,000 GW of additional renewable energy capacity and EUR 3.2 trillion in infrastructure investment.

How shipping supports offshore wind While the maritime sector is dependent on the wind sector for renewable energy production, the wind sector

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will continue to rely on maritime vessels and expertise.

Ships are necessary for transporting and installing turbines, playing a crucial role in the build-out, operation and maintenance of offshore wind farms.

Denmark's maritime sector has played a vital role in enabling the offshore wind industry to evolve from a niche technology into a vital source for green energy globally. With more than three decades of experience since creating the world’s first offshore wind farm, Danish shipping companies have set international standards in wind installation, transport and servicing.

TOWARDS ZERO – DENMARK'S PUSH TO DECARBONISE GLOBAL SHIPPING

PHOTO: ØRSTED | WALNEY VESSEL AND TURBINES

As turbines grow larger, there is an increasing demand for more advanced vessels that can handle the massive components in the changing conditions at sea. The maritime sector also provides skilled personnel, certified to operate safely at open sea in difficult environments and at great heights.

TYPE OFFSHORE WIND SOLUTION PROVIDER CADELER LOCATION COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

Hybrid power cuts emissions on wind farm installation vessels Challenge Offshore wind installation demands vessels with high safety margins, leading to oversized generators and inefficient engine use. This results in higher fuel consumption and emissions, making it challenging to decarbonise offshore wind operations amid tightening regulations.

Solution CADELER’s latest vessels feature a hybrid-electric power system to optimise energy use without compromising safety. A shore power connection enables the vessels to stay at ports without any emissions from fossil fuels. The new vessels also include a battery-hybrid system that balances the vessel’s power demand, removing the need for extra engines running as backup. It also stores energy recovered from the vessel’s frequent jacking operations. This is done by using different sized engines to better match varying loads.

Lastly, the entire setup is automated to always run most efficiently.

Shore power is expected to cut the annual fuel use and emissions by up to 15 percent, while optimised engine loading can reduce fuel use by another 10 percent. These measures support CADELER’s commitment to a net-zero fleet by 2035, reducing the overall emissions during a lifecycle while showcasing green investments to clients and ports.

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PHOTO COURTESY: CADELER

Result

TYPE OFFSHORE WIND SOLUTION PROVIDER STILLSTROM BY MAERSK LOCATION COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

Powering vessels at sea in offshore wind farms Challenge Service Operation Vessels (SOVs) are essential in offshore wind farms but they traditionally rely on marine gas oil. In addition to greenhouse gases (GHGs), these vessels emit sulphur oxides, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, affecting sea life and coastal communities.

Solution Stillstrom has developed a full-scale offshore charging solution that enables batterypowered SOVs to charge directly from the offshore wind farm’s own renewable electricity. The 6 MW offshore eCharger allows a vessel with a 25 MWh battery to charge from 20–90 percent in four hours, including connection time. Once charged, the vessel can operate for up to 19 hours on battery power alone, eliminating the use of fossil fuels during standard operations.

Electrifying SOV operations avoids the daily use of four to five tonnes of marine gas oil and cuts the GHG emissions by 15–20 percent during the life cycle of an offshore wind farm. By enabling vessels to draw power directly from offshore wind farms, the offshore eCharger helps operators manage carbon pricing and limits dependence on volatile fuel markets.

The absence of combustion engines has a positive impact on marine life since it reduces the impact from emissions, noise and vibration. Finally, the electric charger also improves the crew’s conditions since it is quieter running on electricity than on marine gas oil.

TOWARDS ZERO – DENMARK'S PUSH TO DECARBONISE GLOBAL SHIPPING

ILLUSTRATION CREDIT: STILLSTROM BY MAERSK

Result

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Creating the conditions for a green fuel market Achieving climate-neutral shipping by 2050 requires a rapid scale-up of green fuel production, supported by major investment, international coordination and infrastructure across the value chain. If adopted, the upcoming IMO regulations could establish the framework for a global green fuels market, providing the regulatory signals and market mechanisms essential to make these fuels available and competitive.

The urgency of scaling up green fuel production Producing green fuels for international shipping is no longer a technological challenge as the fundamental technologies are known. What remains is scaling them to market in a way that can drive down costs and meet future demand.

This transition depends on major investments across the value chain and close coordination between governments, regulators, energy producers, ports and shipowners.

Urgency is key. While it is tempting to wait for more refined technologies, we might not have enough time. Every delay in ramping up green fuel production can have a huge impact in reaching our global climate goals.

Green fuels are typically three to five times more expensive than fossil alternatives. Options such as green ammonia and e-methanol already exist in Denmark, where commercialscale production and early adoption are demonstrating their viability. Still, their broader competitiveness depends on strong policy support. Regulatory interventions to

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increase the demand for e-fuels, by reducing their cost and increasing the cost of fossil fuels, will be essential to level the playing field and accelerate uptake across global shipping Such measures can help ensure that fossil fuels reflect their true societal and environmental costs.

A turning point came in April 2025 when the IMO approved draft regulations to achieve net-zero shipping by 2050. These include a global fuel standard requiring ships to reduce fuel greenhouse gas intensity over time, calculated on a well-to-wake basis. They are supported by an economic mechanism, requiring high-emitting ships to purchase remedial units, while rewarding the use of low- or zero-emission fuels. Together, these measures are shaping investments and steering the market toward low- and zero-emission fuels. Thus, supply-side certainty of green fuels is taking shape, but its strength depends on continued progress on the demand side.

Increasing offtake by growing the green fleet Given ocean-going vessels typically remain in service for around 25 years, it is essential to act today to ensure the future fleet can use carbon neutral fuels by 2050. From 2030, all new ships ordered by Danish shipowners are to be made ready for green fuels or other zero-emission means of propulsion. This commitment is reflected in current order books, where over 80 percent of total tonnage is already compatible with green fuels. Laying the groundwork for a green fleet sends a strong market signal that once green fuels are available, they will find a buyer.

Even with uncertainty regarding which fuels will dominate the future, shipowners are responding to climate targets and regulatory signals. In 2024 alone, global orders for alternative-fuelled ships rose by 50 percent, with more than 600 new vessels advancing the decarbonisation of maritime transport. A growing share of these, especially among containerships, are designed to run on green fuels.

Mærsk has deployed the world’s first container vessel that can run on methanol, LAURA MÆRSK. The ship is fuelled by e-methanol supplied by European Energy, coming from the world's first large-scale commercial e-methanol production site in Kassø, Denmark. The fuel is produced using renewable energy, water and captured CO₂.

PHOTO CREDIT: A.P. MOLLER MAERSK | DRONE RUNE 2023 (COPYRIGHTS: @TURE ANDERSEN / TURE@OURO.DK)

Did you know? Denmark fuels the world’s first green methanol container vessel

DISCOVER

Green shipping corridors scales demand for green fuels Decarbonising international shipping requires targeted efforts across complex global supply chains. Without clear market signals and infrastructure, green fuels struggle to reach commercial scale.

Green Shipping Corridors are collaborative initiatives between governments and industry that aim to demonstrate and scale zero-emission shipping on specific trade routes. While still in their early stages of realisation, they serve as pilot projects to align regulation, fuel supply, ships, and port infrastructure, reducing risk and building real-world demand for green solutions.

As of 2024, 62 green corridor initiatives involving 245 stakeholders are underway globally, spanning various vessel types and regions. Most remain in the conceptualisation or feasibility phase, but they are helping to build investment confidence and create offtake certainty for producers. By driving early action, these efforts are laying the foundation for the IMO’s 2050 net-zero ambition.

Learn more about the Green Corridors Hub

TYPE GREEN FUELS SOLUTION PROVIDER MAERSK LOCATION COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

Securing a large-scale production of green methanol Challenge The main challenge for decarbonising global shipping is closing the price gap between fossil fuels and green fuels. Currently, green fuels such as e-methanol are in short supply and remain more expensive than conventional bunker fuels. Maersk must secure a reliable and scalable e-methanol supply to deliver on its target of net zero by 2040 and to ensure that its 24 large dual-fuel container vessels, expected by 2027, can operate on green fuel. Without binding offtake agreements, production investments risk being delayed and green vessels deployment might continue to outpace fuel availability.

Solution

Result The agreements secure up to 600,000 tonnes of green methanol annually starting in 2026. This provides critical price and volume certainty, reduces lifecycle emissions by at least 65 percent compared to conventional fossil fuels and enables Mærsk’s customers to decarbonise their supply chains. The partnerships reduce investment risk for producers and mark a key step in scaling green methanol as a viable marine fuel, sending a clear demand signal to the market.

TOWARDS ZERO – DENMARK'S PUSH TO DECARBONISE GLOBAL SHIPPING

PHOTO CREDIT: MAERSK | THE WEDD STORIES

To address this, Mærsk has signed major green methanol offtake agreements with Goldwind and LONGi Green Energy Technology. The deals cover more than half the green methanol needed to operate Mærsk’s fleet of 24 large dual-fuel container vessels by 2027.

The fuels include both bio- and e-methanol, produced from sources like agricultural residues and renewable energy.

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How energy efficiency accelerates green shipping Improving energy performance across the global fleet is the most immediate and cost-effective way to cut emissions, ease the fuel transition and realise a greener fleet.

Energy efficiency is one of the most cost-effective and readily available ways to cut shipping emissions, easing the transition to green fuels. Improving energy efficiency has become not just a strategic advantage but a necessary step in meeting the sector’s 2050 netzero goal.

Fuel-saving measures ease the transition By reducing fuel use per voyage, improving energy efficiency lowers absolute fuel costs regardless of fuel type. This is particularly important since green fuels such as e-methanol and e-ammonia remain in limited supply and are three to five times more expensive than conventional fuels. As a result, the green premium becomes a smaller absolute barrier to adopting green fuels, both for individual shipowners and the sector as a whole.

Furthermore, energy efficiency helps buy time.

According to DNV’s Maritime Forecast to 2050, energy

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efficiency alone could reduce fuel consumption by up to 16 percent. This is equivalent to removing emissions from 55,000 of the smallest ships or 2,500 of the largest. While it will not in itself ensure compliance with the forthcoming IMO fuel-intensity rules, energy efficiency can deliver a large part of the emission reductions needed for a zero-carbon future.

data and standardised measurement build trust in performance claims. Third-party financing models, where an external party fronts the investment and is repaid through verified savings, realign incentives for shipowners and charterers. These solutions can help smaller actors overcome capital constraints and unlock efficiency gains at scale.

Supporting the uptake in energy efficiency measures Despite the benefits and necessity of energy efficiency measures, a large part of the global fleet still needs to improve energy efficiency. Uptake of measures such as speed optimisation, weather routing and better port coordination remains low. The barriers are rarely technical, as most technologies exist and require no new infrastructure. Instead, the main obstacles are institutional, including split incentives, data uncertainty and misaligned business models.

Overcoming these barriers requires regulatory support, transparency and innovative financing. Verified

Denmark has taken a leading role in enabling this transition. As a strong advocate of global maritime regulation, Denmark successfully proposed the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI), adopted by the IMO as a mandatory requirement for newbuild ships. Together with the Energy Efficiency Existing Ship Index (EEXI) and the Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII), these tools are helping to embed energy performance into the DNA of fleet operations.

Did you know? For every euro invested in energy efficiency, society saves ten euros in fuel production.

When energy is converted into sustainable fuels and later combusted, a significant share of the original energy is lost. At the same time, sustainable fuels are generally more expensive than fossil fuels, despite fossil fuel prices also being on the rise due to regulation.

While the payback time for individual measures varies from a few months to much longer, the overall benefit is clear: incentivising ships to implement as many energy efficiency measures as possible is one of the most cost-effective paths to decarbonisation.

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PHOTO CREDIT: DANISH SHIPPING

In this light, maximising energy efficiency is not just beneficial but essential: it reduces the total energy needed for production, storage, and transport of green fuels, lowering overall fuel demand and making the added cost of the green premium less of a barrier to adopting these fuels.

TYPE ENERGY EFFICIENCY SOLUTION PROVIDER HEMPEL LOCATION KONGENS LYNGBY, DENMARK

Advanced coating technology provides immediate fuel efficiency and fouling protection for newbuild vessels Challenge Applying high-performance silicone hull coatings during the newbuild phase has historically been challenging due to the atmospheric conditions the hull is exposed to during construction. The industry therefore lacked a silicone solution tailormade for application during shipbuilding, allowing shipowners and operators to benefit from peak performance without the need for a pre-or post-delivery docking.

Solution Hempel developed Hempaguard NB; a silicone hull coating engineered specifically for newbuilds. It combines proven fuel-saving technology with a topcoat designed to withstand open-atmosphere shipyard conditions. This allows shipyards to apply a silicone coating during construction, eliminating the need for pre- or post-delivery dry-docking. The result is a fully efficient vessel from the moment it hits the water, supporting long-term performance and compliance while giving shipyards a competitive edge.

The coating delivers full silicone benefits already from sea trial, with up to 20 percent in fuel savings, 1.2 percent in average speed loss and up to 120 fouling-free idle days, compared to conventional antifoulings that traditionally are applied during construction.

This helps shipowners cut emissions, ensure regulatory compliance and reduce lifecycle costs. At the same time, shipyards offering this application are able to meet the growing demand from shipowners by delivering more efficient vessels out of dock while minimising complexity for shipowners.

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PHOTO CREDIT: HEMPEL

Result

TYPE ENERGY EFFICIENCY SOLUTION PROVIDER DHI LOCATION BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA

How to reduce the carbon footprint of vessel traffic Challenge While global shipping has made strides in optimising open-sea voyages, final transit through port approaches remains inefficient. Vessels often consume unnecessary fuel navigating coastal waters, leading to avoidable emissions close to ports.

Solution

Result The first trial showed emission reductions of over 50 percent on some transits, with average savings of 2.3 tonnes CO₂ per vessel. Shipping operators can benefit from lower fuel consumption, less queuing and improved predictability, whereas the port reduces congestion and enhances efficiency. When fully implemented, Port of Brisbane has a potential of reducing their emissions with 11,500 tonnes of CO₂, equivalent to the annual carbon footprint of around 1,000 Australians. As a scalable solution, the Green Button demonstrates how digital tools can accelerate the decarbonisation of existing fleets by improving energy efficiency in real-world port operations.

TOWARDS ZERO – DENMARK'S PUSH TO DECARBONISE GLOBAL SHIPPING

PHOTO CREDIT: NIGEL SPIERS | ADOBE STOCK

To address this, Port of Brisbane Pty Ltd partnered with DHI to implement the Green Button.

The Green Button is a digital, real-time scheduling and decision-support tool for pilots. The tool calculates the most suitable vessel speed by using local weather and currents. The aim is to reduce fuel consumption and speed as much as possible while meeting the scheduled arrival and departure time in port. The Green Button is built on DHI’s physics-based platform for traffic management, NCOS Online, and was tested together with project partners A.P. Moller – Maersk, CMA CGM, Poseidon Sea Pilots and Marine Safety Queensland in 2024.

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Realising the potential for carbon capture, utilisation and storage Denmark is using its strong maritime and offshore expertise to become a key hub for transporting and storing captured CO₂, helping meet Europe’s climate targets.

As a strong shipping nation and a key player in developing energy technologies, Denmark is well-positioned to drive the development of carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) across Europe. Danish shipowners, port operators and specialists in the offshore sector are ready to support the entire CCUS value chain. Especially in the safe and efficient transport of captured CO₂ to offshore storage sites and across the ocean for onshore storage.

Realising the North Sea’s storage potential depends heavily on the maritime sector. Ships are essential in transporting captured CO₂ from hubs, often located by ports across Europe, to offshore storage. This is important where pipelines are not feasible or cost-effective. In such cases, ports with large emitters are ideal sites for CO2 hubs. Ports can streamline the logistics by integrating the collection, liquefaction and transportation of CO₂.

Storing CO₂ is essential for Europe to reach its goals of climate neutrality by 2050 and mitigate the effects of climate change globally. This is why Denmark is pushing for developing commercial-scale CO₂ storage in EU. Denmark’s subsoil holds a storage potential of enough CO₂ to cover several hundred years of the country’s current annual emissions. Most of this capacity lies beneath the Danish part of the North Sea, making it a strategic location for storing CO₂ from hard to abate sectors like cement production or waste-to-energy plants.

Why CO₂ is key to scaling green shipping fuels When it comes to the future of green shipping, CCUS and green fuels are interlinked. In the production of green fuels, CO₂ from biogenic sources like sustainable biomass, biogas and organic waste is necessary to turn green hydrogen into certain green fuels like e-methanol. Instead of storing all captured CO₂ underground, a share can be recycled into green fuel as production scales. With shipping responsible for nearly three percent of global emissions, scaling e-methanol production requires steady CO2 supply to meet climate goals.

By setting clear targets and developing supportive

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regulations, the EU is driving towards a robust CCUS market.

Achieving EU’s goal of climate neutrality by 2050 means capturing around 550 million tonnes of CO₂ each year, with up to 300 million tonnes needing to be stored. The EU’s Net-Zero Industry Act from 2024 underlines carbon capture as a key net-zero technology. For green shipping, progress will depend on new energy technologies such as CCUS and the conversion to green fuels. All areas where Denmark is closely involved.

2.9 million tonnes of CO₂ are expected to be captured and stored annually in Denmark, putting the country on track to achieve net-negative emissions by 2050.

LISTEN

Podcast – Sound of Green: A world's first in CO2storage

The IPCC, the International Energy Association, and the European Union have all identified carbon capture and storage as an important pathway for reducing CO₂ emissions and achieving net zero.

In the episode 'A World’s First in CO₂ Storage', Sound of Green explores Denmark’s potential for CO₂ storage. Tune in to hear about the world’s first cross-border offshore CO₂ storage pilot in the North Sea, where Danish Shipping discusses leveraging maritime strongholds to drive advancements across green industries.

PHOTO CREDIT: INEOS ENERGY

Listen to the episode of Sound of Green

PHOTO CREDIT: ODENSE PORT

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Why green shipping demands a growing workforce With an estimated EUR 1.7 trillion in infrastructure investment needed to decarbonise global shipping, the green transition hinges as much on reskilling and upskilling the maritime workforce as it does on technical innovation.

According to the Global Maritime Forum, the transition to scalable green fuels has the potential to create up to four million cumulative jobs across the global energy supply chain by 2050. For comparison, the entire merchant seafaring workforce is about two million. Though not directly comparable, the figures highlight the scale of potential job creation.

The transition to green shipping will reshape job profiles across the maritime sector. This does not mean fewer jobs, just different ones. As global shipping shifts to green fuels and low-carbon technologies, ensuring that workers are equipped to drive and benefit from the transition is critical.

The following examples show how initiatives like wind energy and CCUS generate demand for new competencies and provide a variety of employment possibilities across the maritime value chain.

TOWARDS ZERO – DENMARK'S PUSH TO DECARBONISE GLOBAL SHIPPING

Offshore wind as an engine for maritime jobs The scale-up of offshore wind is essential as a source of green energy, enabling several decarbonisation pathways in shipping. This build-out is not only an infrastructure project, but also a massive employment generator. A 2020 study showed that one GW of offshore wind in Denmark can support 14,600 manyears of employment, including vessel crews, turbine installation teams, cable layers and port operators.

As the sector grows, much of the job growth will come from supporting infrastructure and services, drawing on maritime expertise in the design, construction and operation of wind farms. In addition to the existing 2.6 GW, Denmark plans to expand offshore wind capacity by another 4.5 GW by 2033. This increase will drive the demand for maritime competencies, creating new roles and requiring new profiles. For workers, this means reskilling for offshore operations and upskilling to handle the emerging technologies connected to green shipping.

Growing the workforce by capturing carbon As the shipping sector seeks to manage residual emissions, carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) emerges as both a tool for climate-change mitigation and a job creator.

An analysis by the Danish Metalworkers Union estimates that repurposing fields for CO₂ storage could support over 2,500 jobs while also creating 500 new jobs within the maritime industry. Additionally, the think tank Kraka estimates that the potential growth of the CCUS sector is between EUR 3.08–13.4 billion, which could generate between 4,000–17,000 new jobs in Denmark alone.

Both findings highlight CCUS’s dual role in reducing emissions and creating significant job opportunities in both the shipping and energy sectors. Given Denmark’s population of just six million, this scale of job creation signals the substantial potential for CCUS-driven employment in larger economies around the world.

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TYPE GREEN JOBS SOLUTION PROVIDER PORT OF ESBJERG LOCATION ESBJERG HAVN, DENMARK

The reskilling required to go from a fishing port to the world’s largest offshore hub Challenge It created uncertainty for the local workforce when Port of Esbjerg faced economic decline as fish stocks fell and fish quotas tightened. At the same time, Denmark’s offshore wind sector grew rapidly, requiring ports equipped to manage complex logistics for turbine assembly and shipping. Port of Esbjerg pivoted from its fishing legacy to support this new offshore wind industry, safeguarding the local workforce along the way.

Solution

Result Esbjerg is now the world’s largest base port for offshore wind, handling over 80 percent of Europe’s installed capacity. The port hosts 200 companies and supports 10,000 jobs.

Its transformation shows how ports can revitalise local economies, create green jobs and enable a fair, skills-based shift.

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PHOTO CREDIT: PORT OF ESBJERG

In 2002, Esbjerg was selected as the base port for Denmark’s first large-scale offshore wind farm, Horns Rev 1. Recognising wind’s potential, the port invested in new quay facilities and storage areas to accommodate ever-larger turbine components. A key priority was retraining workers from fishing, oil and dock sectors. These individuals possessed transferable skills like heavy lifting, logistics and maritime safety, all essential for offshore wind operations. Through targeted training programmes, many gained new certifications to support in installation and maintenance work of offshore wind.

TYPE GREEN JOBS SOLUTION PROVIDER RelyOn LOCATION COPENHAGEN, DENMARK

Empowering the green maritime workforce through simulation Challenge As shipping moves toward decarbonisation, the maritime sector faces a growing skills gap: new fuel types, changing safety protocols, on top of increased automation and digitalization calls for an upskilling of the workforce. For crane operators, this means increasingly complex workflows and safety demands, particularly when handling sensitive equipment or components for offshore wind. Meeting these new requirements calls for faster, safer and more flexible ways to train port personnel without disrupting terminal operations or increasing emissions.

Solution RelyOn tailors programmes to teach the required skills for the changing industry and deliver them via a global network of training centres and digital platforms or even onsite at sea.

Through cutting-edge simulation technology, crane operators can practice real terminal layouts, operational scenarios, emergency procedures, verify lift plans and optimise workflows in a risk-free setting.

RelyOn's simulation training contributes directly to greener, safer and more efficient maritime operation. It allows for increased precision, with fewer emissions during training.

All without halting operations. It also ensures crane operators are better prepared for the demands of lifting operations central to the green transition. This, in turn, drives long-term job creation by developing a workforce with the expertise and flexibility needed to meet the sector’s evolving demands.

TOWARDS ZERO – DENMARK'S PUSH TO DECARBONISE GLOBAL SHIPPING

PHOTO CREDIT: RelyOn

Result

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Ensuring a just, equitable and green transition The IMO's efforts to develop regulatory measures are crucial for the industry’s pathway towards climate-neutral shipping. Denmark is actively supporting the adoption and further development of the IMO Net-Zero Framework to incentivise the global uptake of renewable fuels and technologies while ensuring a just and equitable transition.

The transition of the global shipping sector can unlock benefits for developing countries by increasing demand for investments in ports, education of skilled workers and green alternative fuels, thereby accelerating the development of renewable energy. To unlock these opportunities, global regulation is key to ensure a level playing field, de-risk the required investments and to support the development of the needed infrastructure in developing countries.

The IMO Net-Zero Framework includes a global fuel standard, a reward for the use of renewable fuels and a payment for excess emissions. Besides creating incentive for uptake of new green fuels by narrowing the price gap between cheaper fossil fuels and renewable-based alternatives, the pricing mechanism provides funding to support the least developed countries and the small island developing states. This funding helps ensure a just and equitable green transition for these nations.

The scope and content of this support mechanism will be developed in 2026.

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Under the right national framework conditions, the transition of the shipping sector can open the door for large infrastructure investments and clean energy technology development. It can also drive the creation of new green jobs and support the upskilling of the local workforce, including seafarers.

The Global Maritime Forum estimates that investments needed to reach net-zero emission shipping in 2050 will amount to between EUR 1–1.4 trillion. The biggest share of investments is needed in the land-based infrastructure and production facilities for low carbon fuels, which make up around 87 percent of the total investments.

This creates opportunities for developing countries, particularly for those with significant renewable energy resources to produce green fuels at scale. Wellpositioned countries include a number of developing countries, characterised by their low-cost renewable energy sources combined with other advantages, such as a strategic proximity to major shipping routes.

The transition of the shipping sector also offers an opportunity for new and more high-skilled jobs in the maritime sector both in ports and on board ships.

Danish support for green shipping in developing countries: At COP28 Denmark took initiative to develop a new track under the Green Shipping Challenge focusing on capacity development and implementation of the IMO GHG strategy in developing countries.

In November 2024 Denmark donated EUR 2.7 million to support IMO GHG related funds working on capacity building of maritime authorities and seafarers in developing countries. The fund also supports the support to the Green Voyage 2050 programme focusing on energy efficiency, pilots and the development of National Action Plans.

PHOTO CREDIT: JAANUS JAGOMÄGI | UNSPLASH

Discover more and connect with green shipping solutions providers Decarbonising global shipping is essential to reaching international climate goals. It requires innovation, investment and international cooperation. Denmark’s maritime sector is already taking steps to scale green fuels, and develop the infrastructure and skills needed for a just and inclusive transition.

State of Green connects you with Danish companies, solutions and partnerships helping to accelerate the shift to sustainable shipping.

Explore more and join the transition.

Connect with solution providers at stateofgreen.com

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About State of Green State of Green is a not-for-profit, public-private partnership between the Danish government and the country’s three leading business organisations (Danish Industry, Green Power Denmark and the Danish Agriculture and Food Council).

State of Green is your one-stop-shop to more than 600 Danish businesses, agencies, academic institutions, experts and researchers. State of Green connects you with leading Danish players working to drive the global transition to a sustainable, low-carbon, resource-efficient society.

Learn more about State of Green at stateofgreen.com.