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Summaries of EU Legislation

Renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport

 

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

It aims to ensure that European Union (EU) maritime transport meets the EU’s climate targets for 2030 and 2050 and plays a key role in delivering on the European Climate Law.

KEY POINTS

FuelEU maritime initiative

  • The ‘FuelEU maritime’ regulation is a key part of the EU’s fit for 55 package of measures designed to deliver the European Green Deal. It aims to increase the demand for and consistent use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in the maritime sector, in the same way as Regulation (EU) 2023/2405 ‘refuelEU aviation’ (see summary) for the aviation sector. The regulation was adopted along with Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 (see summary) on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure.
  • The rules put in place ensure that the greenhouse gas intensity of fuels used by the shipping sector will gradually decrease over time, by 2% in 2025 to as much as 80% by 2050.
  • Among the fuels certified as contributing to the reduction in greenhouse gas intensity, the regulation mentions renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO), which have a high decarbonisation potential. It includes a special incentive to support the uptake of such fuels. Fossil fuels are excluded from the regulation’s certification process.
  • From 2030, passenger ships and containers will be required to use an on-shore power supply for all electricity needs whilst moored at major EU ports to mitigate air pollution.
  • A voluntary pooling mechanism permits ships to pool their compliance balance with one or more other ships – the pool, as a whole, must meet the greenhouse gas intensity limits on average.
  • Time-limited exceptions are included, granting specific treatment for the EU’s outermost regions, small islands and areas that are economically highly dependent on their connectivity.
  • Any revenues generated from penalties for non-compliance with the regulation must be used for projects in support of the maritime sector’s decarbonisation with an enhanced transparency mechanism.
  • The regulation’s implementation is monitored through the European Commission’s reporting and review process.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

The regulation applies from 1 January 2025,, with the exception of two articles related to the monitoring plan that apply from 31 August 2024.

BACKGROUND

For further information, see:

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) 2023/1805 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2023 on the use of renewable and low-carbon fuels in maritime transport, and amending Directive 2009/16/EC (OJ L 234, 22.9.2023, pp. 48–100).

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Regulation (EU) 2023/1804 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 September 2023 on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, and repealing Directive 2014/94/EU (OJ L 234, 22.9.2023, pp. 1–47).

Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on a new approach for a sustainable blue economy in the EU – Transforming the EU’s Blue Economy for a Sustainable Future (COM(2021) 240 final, 17.5.2021).

Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 June 2021 establishing the framework for achieving climate neutrality and amending Regulations (EC) No 401/2009 and (EU) 2018/1999 (‘European Climate Law’) (OJ L 243, 9.7.2021, pp. 1–17).

Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 on the Governance of the Energy Union and Climate Action, amending Regulations (EC) No 663/2009 and (EC) No 715/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council, Directives 94/22/EC, 98/70/EC, 2009/31/EC, 2009/73/EC, 2010/31/EU, 2012/27/EU and 2013/30/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council, Council Directives 2009/119/EC and (EU) 2015/652 and repealing Regulation (EU) No 525/2013 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 328, 21.12.2018, pp.1–77).

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) 2018/1999 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

Regulation (EU) 2015/757 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2015 on the monitoring, reporting and verification of carbon dioxide emissions from maritime transport, and amending Directive 2009/16/EC (OJ L 123, 19.5.2015, pp. 55–76).

See consolidated version.

Directive 2009/16/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 on port State control (recast) (OJ L 131, 28.5.2009, pp. 57–100).

See consolidated version.

Directive 2003/87/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 October 2003 establishing a system for greenhouse gas emission allowance trading within the Union and amending Council Directive 96/61/EC (OJ L 275, 25.10.2003, pp. 32–46).

See consolidated version.

last update 11.09.2024

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