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Amazon and IKEA join with other ocean cargo shippers in boosting demand for green fuels

Amazon.com, IKEA and about 30 other companies who depend on ocean cargo will invite shipping companies to bid for the first contract to move their goods on vessels powered with efuels that emit almost no emissions, such as emethanol, in January.

The Zero Emissions Maritime Buyers Alliance, a group of members who all have climate goals, wants to leverage the collective power of their members to increase demand for efuels that are made from renewable electricity and CO2. These fuels are very scarce.

The alliance wants to speed up the transition of ocean shipping to a net-zero emissions level by 2050. This is despite Donald Trump, who will likely withdraw from international agreements to combat climate change.

The global fleet is responsible for more than 80% percent of all trade in the world and about 3% of GHG emissions. The alliance stated that e-fuels were vital for decarbonizing ocean transportation because they could compete with fossil fuels in the long term on price and supply.

Carl Berger who is the sustainability and export operations leader at Amazon Global Logistics, said: "This is what you do to get on the path and on track towards being net-zero."

In 2027, the group expects to start its three-to-five-year contracts to transport e-fuel.

It is estimated that the cargo transported under this contract would be at least 1.4 millions 20-foot containers shipped from Shanghai to Los Angeles. The group stated that this would allow members to reduce GHG emissions by 470,000 metric tons, which warms the planet and damages human health.

Maersk, Evergreen, and Ocean Network Express have ordered ships which can run on emethanol. They are also working to secure the supply of this fuel.

The alliance hopes that their collective actions will reduce the cost of efuels. However, they are expecting to pay a premium not disclosed to offset the higher price compared to fossil fuel.

Ingrid Irigoyen, CEO of the Alliance, said that e-fuel costs will start to drop once it gets started.

(source: Reuters)