Brazil's Ports Poised for Renewable Marine Fuel Leadership
Key Ideas
  • Six Brazilian ports, including Santos and Porto do Açu, identified as potential renewable marine fuel bunkering hubs, showcasing high readiness for green shipping corridors.
  • Feasibility assessment revealed that renewable hydrogen derivatives like ammonia and methanol could be used without mid-route refueling on major shipping routes, reducing emissions significantly.
  • Estimated renewable hydrogen demand for zero-emission shipping routes amounts to 1,785-1,911 tonnes, equivalent to a renewable electricity demand of 82 to 92 GWh, showcasing a sustainable energy transition.
  • ICCT plans to conduct further studies to quantify the scaled demand for renewable marine fuel in Brazil, highlighting the potential economic and environmental benefits of transitioning to green shipping practices.
The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) released a report focusing on the potential of Brazilian ports to become renewable marine fuel bunkering hubs, leveraging the country's renewable energy resources and strategic location. The study assessed the readiness of six candidate ports, including both public and private ports like Santos and Porto do Açu, to support the production and deployment of renewable hydrogen and its derivatives for green shipping corridors. Key findings included high port readiness scores, with Santos ranking well across multiple criteria and the feasibility of using renewable hydrogen derivatives on major shipping routes without mid-route refueling. The estimated demand for renewable hydrogen to enable zero-emission shipping routes was highlighted, showcasing the sustainable energy transition required in the maritime industry. The study emphasized the importance of factors like existing renewable energy use, port capacity, infrastructure, location, and commitment to decarbonization in evaluating port readiness for bunkering renewable marine fuels. Despite the positive outlook, realizing the full potential of renewable fuel alternatives will necessitate significant investments and collaboration among stakeholders. ICCT plans to delve deeper into the scaled demand for renewable marine fuel in Brazil in future studies, aiming to explore the economic and environmental benefits of transitioning to green shipping practices.
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