Maritime Decarbonization by 2050: Challenges and Fuel Pathways for Climate-Neutral Shipping

A new analysis from the Technical University of Denmark highlights the urgent timeline for decarbonizing the global shipping fleet. Professor Anders Erlandsson notes that to reach climate neutrality by 2050, shipping companies must decide on their green fuel investments by 2030, as converting just 5% of the fleet annually would take 20 years. The core problem remains that no single fuel candidate has emerged as a clear winner for all vessel types. Biofuels offer a drop-in solution but face a sustainability dilemma due to limited biomass supply and competition with food production. Large ocean-going vessels cannot rely on electrification because battery weight would displace cargo. The professor predicts a mix of solutions including wind assistance, carbon capture, and possibly nuclear power for smaller reactors, but warns that 100% climate neutrality by 2050 looks unrealistic, with an optimistic estimate of 80%.