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Tag: decarbonisation

Podcast: Sailing Towards Net Zero – Maritime Operations

Posted on by David Priestman

How is the maritime sector navigating the twin pressures of decarbonisation and digitalisation? What role do regulation, education, and innovation play in steering global shipping toward a greener future?

In this edition of Logistics Business Conversations, host Peter MacLeod, editor of Logistics Business Magazine, welcomes Anna Kaparaki – senior solicitor, DBA researcher in maritime decarbonisation, and Course Director for the MSc Sustainable Maritime Operations at Liverpool John Moores University.
Together, they explore the seismic shift taking place across the maritime industry as it races to meet net-zero targets, comply with evolving international regulations, and embrace the circular economy.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

  • How emerging technologies like AI, IoT, and digital twins are enabling greener, more efficient maritime operations
  • The growing complexity of global and regional sustainability regulations — from IMO frameworks to the EU ETS and FuelEU Maritime
  • Why education and training are critical to preparing the next generation of maritime professionals
  • Real-world decarbonisation case studies, from wind-assisted propulsion to methanol-fueled container ships
  • Strategies for implementing circular economy principles and sustainable ship recycling
  • The impact of international maritime law and insurance on green compliance
  • Career opportunities in ESG compliance, green finance, and maritime sustainability management
  • The role of ports, intermodal systems, and digital platforms in building more resilient, lower-carbon supply chains

As Anna says, “Technology alone won’t solve these challenges. We need professionals who can integrate technical, legal and commercial knowledge to lead maritime’s sustainable transition.”
Whether you’re a maritime professional, policy expert, student, or logistics leader, this conversation offers practical insights into the challenges and opportunities shaping the shipping industry’s net-zero journey.

Listen now: Logistics Business Conversations – The Logistics Podcast

This episode is in partnership with Lloyd’s Maritime Academy and Liverpool John Moores University

Fully-Electric HGV Added to Fleet

Posted on by David Priestman

Kinaxia Logistics has added the first fully-electric Volvo HGV to its fleet as the company continues to invest in its environmental and emissions reduction strategy and help customers to decarbonise their supply chains. The new Volvo FM 4×2 tractor unit, which has a range of 200 miles and is powered by six batteries and three electric motors, was supplied by award-winning Volvo dealer Thomas Hardie Commercials.

It is being deployed to move stock for Vaillant, which manufactures heat pumps and high-efficiency boilers to help decarbonise home heating in the UK. The zero-emissions vehicle, which replaces a diesel truck, is being used to transport goods from Vaillant’s manufacturing plant in Belper, Derbyshire, to a national distribution centre seven miles away at Denby.

Kinaxia says the tractor unit will reduce delivery emissions for Vaillant by more than 21,600kg CO2e a year. The electric truck complements other eco-friendly vehicles in Kinaxia’s fleet which are powered by compressed natural gas and hydrotreated vegetable oil, as part of its mission to help customers remove carbon emissions from their supply chains and meet environmental targets.

Simon Nelson, managing director of Kinaxia’s contract logistics operations, said: “We announced at the start of the year that we would be investing further in sustainability measures, and this new electric vehicle sits alongside other recent initiatives, including our greater use of technology and our K-Link distribution network which reduces delivery miles and emissions for customers. This upgrade supports Vaillant’s goal to halve its carbon emissions by 2030 and there are great synergies between both businesses, as we drive decarbonisation of our customer supply chains and Vaillant supports the decarbonisation of home heating through the design and manufacture of low-carbon systems.”

Nick Bennett, supply chain director at Vaillant Group UK & Ireland, said: “We’re delighted to have invested in a more efficient fleet, launching our very first fully- electric lorry which supports us on our journey to net zero. At Vaillant, we are driving the transition to decarbonising home heating with our heat pump technology, so this new vehicle moves us forward in a positive way whilst we consider how we further decarbonise the whole supply chain. Partnering with Kinaxia and Volvo has allowed us all to work together with a shared sustainability vision. We see this as the first of many electric vehicles yet to be introduced into our fleet.”

Kinaxia, which has its headquarters in Cheshire, has 1,600 staff nationwide and operates a fleet of 1,000 vehicles transporting goods for the retail, leisure, food and drink and manufacturing sectors.
The company’s national network of hubs provides a full source-to-shelf logistics service. It has 2.7 million sq ft of strategic national warehousing facilities offering contract packing, e-fulfilment, returns management, storage services and a complete distribution service.

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BMW Group Logistics Tests Hydrogen Trucks

Posted on by David Priestman

The BMW Group is driving the future of emission-free heavy-duty transport – with pilot operations of the first hydrogen trucks now underway at Plant Leipzig as part of the H2Haul project. Demonstrating its openness to different technologies once again – including in logistics – the BMW Group’s involvement is one component of its more comprehensive hydrogen strategy connecting transport, production and products.

Emission-free Heavy-Duty Transport

The BMW Group is taking the next step towards sustainable transport logistics: two local emission-free fuel-cell trucks are now entering pilot operations. Part of the European H2Haul project supporting hydrogen-powered freight transport, the trucks will travel between Leipzig, Landsberg and Nuremberg to see how their drive technology performs in everyday operations. In addition, state-of-the-art hydrogen filling stations are currently under construction at Leipzig and Hormersdorf (northeast of Nuremberg) to offer the fast refuelling necessary for truck operations to succeed. The project is being realised by the BMW Group in conjunction with Iveco, DHL and TEAL mobility.

“The right choice of transport is important in global logistics, as elsewhere, to keep us future-focused and efficient in our work. So, transport logistics is another area reflecting the BMW Group’s open-minded approach to technologies. For the first time, hydrogen-powered trucks will support series production in German car manufacturing. We have been working on the project for a number of years now and are rolling out this pilot fleet in collaboration with our partners. It’s an important milestone as it will give us experience of how these trucks work in series operations and help us continue enhancing this crucial technology,” says Michael Nikolaides, head of Production Network and Logistics at the BMW Group.

The H2Haul project looks at how hydrogen fuel cell-powered trucks perform in real-world driving and what they can contribute to fossil fuel-free heavy-duty transport. All in all, 16 vehicles are involved, subsidised by the Clean Hydrogen Partnership and operating across Europe. Of those, two are IVECO S-eWay Fuel Cell trucks on the road for the BMW Group. Findings from the pilot project are expected to help enhance the technology and get it market-ready. A valuable addition to the battery-electric trucks already on the road, the hydrogen vehicles are quick to refuel and offer significant range. They are also flexible to use as they are independent of the charging infrastructure or grid development.

The BMW Group’s participation in the H2Haul project is a key cornerstone in its Reduced Logistics Emissions Strategy. This aims to achieve emission-free transport logistics, with a dedicated cross-departmental team developing measures to reduce CO₂ from the BMW Group’s road, rail and shipping transport worldwide. Drive technologies receiving a positive rating are advanced into pilot projects and new plant concepts, whose emissions data is then systematically recoded to enable accurate CO₂ reporting.

Fuel cell technology is not all the BMW Group is testing: it is also involved in the HyCET (Hydrogen Combustion Engine Trucks) project. In the future, this will see two 40-tonne and one 18-tonne truck powered by hydrogen combustion engines join its logistics fleet. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport (BMDV), the HyCET project is being implemented by the BMW Group in conjunction with DHL, Volvo Trucks, Deutz, KEYOU and TotalEnergies.

By testing H₂ fuel cells and combustion engines simultaneously, the BMW Group is remaining true to its open-minded approach to technologies – including in logistics. While fuel cells work more efficiently, combustion engines are cheaper to produce as they essentially work on the same tried-and-tested principle as a diesel. The EU ordinance classes both hydrogen technologies as zero-emissions, and out on the road they are both being trialled on the same routes and refuelling at the same filling stations. The aim is to determine the best use case for each technology in BMW Group logistics.

Heavy-duty transport is not the only area where the BMW Group uses hydrogen: it also uses it within its own plants. Plant Leipzig is considered a pioneer in this regard, being home to the first indoor hydrogen filling station in Germany since way back in 2013. Today it operates five such facilities as well as one of the largest fleets of fuel cell-powered forklifts and tug trains in Europe. The latest filling station even offers fully automated refuelling – another first.

Innovative solutions are a defining feature in production too, where the BMW Group is the first carmaker in the world to roll out a brand-new type of burner, now on stream in Plant Leipzig. The new bivalent system can be powered by gas as well as hydrogen, and there are currently five such burners operating in contrast roof painting for the MINI Countryman. Further burners are currently being converted for hydrogen, with the longer-term aim of doing away with gas power completely and reducing CO2 emissions further. “Our vision at Plant Leipzig is to largely decarbonise production. We can achieve that, in part, by replacing fossil fuels with hydrogen,” explains Petra Peterhänsel, Plant Director at BMW Group Plant Leipzig, taking a longer view of the plant’s overall direction for the future.

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Path to Decarbonized Intermodal Supply Chains

Posted on by David Priestman

Girteka is shifting toward more sustainable operations by combining rail and road transport and optimizing long-distance deliveries across Europe. Only in 2024 the usage of intermodal solution rose by 35% compare to 2023, delivering more than 24.000 fulltruck loads. From Spain or Italy across the Europe, intermodal is increasing the choice of solutions available for companies seeking reliable, environmentally friendly transportation – even for temperature-sensitive goods.

Growing Demand for Intermodal Solutions

In 2024, demand for intermodal services has steadily grow, reflecting the logistics sector’s growing focus on sustainability. Girteka‘s network now connects key European regions, including Spain, Italy, France, Germany. Companies in industries like food & beverages and cosmetics opt for intermodal transport as a practical way to lower emissions while maintaining product quality and delivery precision.

Thanks to advanced digital tools like real-time visibility and remote control of trailers, Girteka ensures cargo arrives in perfect condition. One example highlights the potential of using combined version of sustainable solutions. Combining transport to and from rail terminals with HVO fuel allowed to save up to 90% of CO2 emissions, with deliveries remaining punctual and in ideal condition.

Tangible Emissions Reduction

Girteka’s intermodal services have made a measurable impact on emissions reduction. In 2024 alone, the company saved over 23,6 million of kilograms of CO₂, demonstrating the effectiveness of intermodal solutions in achieving sustainability goals.

By covering long distances with trains capable of carrying up to 50 trailers at a time, companies across industries are choosing intermodal for both environmental and operational efficiency. Girteka plays a critical role in this process by acting as a facilitator and coordinating efforts among customers, intermodal providers, and supply chain stakeholders. With the support of digital tools, each transport is carefully calculated in terms of emission reduction, so each customer’s transport can be measured by reducing its carbon footprint, which is much more accurate than the average in the logistics sector today. With such precise and much below-the-sector average emissions reporting, companies can tackle their Scope 3 emissions more accurately and provide relevant accuracy and proof of reduction and reduction efforts.

Decarbonization: A Shared Effort

Decarbonizing supply chains requires collective action. Customers, intermodal operators, and carriers like Girteka must collaborate to create efficient, sustainable solutions. This co-creation allows to analyze and optimize the existing supply chains with the knowledge and expertise of large carriers and bring various scenarios to the table to decide which solutions are the best, knowing the individual goals of each of the stakeholders.

EU initiatives such as the ‘Greener Freight Transport Package’ are expected to reduce infrastructure and bureaucratic barriers, making intermodal transport even more accessible. Internet of Things, real-time monitoring capabilities further simplify integration into supply chains. With the proper support, companies can reshape their logistics systems to meet environmental and business objectives.

“Today, we see the real benefits of collaboration in logistics,” says Larisa Senkevičienė (pictured), Intermodal Business Development Manager at Girteka. “By co-creating sustainable solutions, we can reduce emissions significantly while maintaining high-quality, on-time delivery.”

Scaling Sustainable Practices for 2025 and Beyond

As 2025 is already in full swing, Girteka is committed to further investments in digital tools and expanding intermodal services. Strengthening partnerships with rail operators and incorporating alternative fuel options like HVO100 or BEV for first — and last-mile deliveries are key to scaling these efforts and decarbonizing the supply chains 100%.

Girteka’s 2024 achievements prove that sustainability in logistics is achievable. The company reduces emissions by combining innovation, collaboration, and responsibility while delivering exceptional service. “Sustainable logistics is no longer just a possibility – it’s a reality that benefits businesses, the planet, and future generations. Intermodal solutions showcase that by working together, the logistics industry can meet environmental challenges head-on, shaping a greener, more efficient future,” concludes Senkevičienė.

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Hydrogen for HGV Heavies

Posted on by David Priestman

Heavy Goods Vehicles are well-suited to the use of hydrogen for carbon-free transport fleets and good progress is being made. Richard Shepherd-Barron reports for Logistics Business.

In recent years the emphasis on clean power has been very much concentrated on electric vehicles – especially in the light van and medium vehicle sectors. However, there are drawbacks, such as the reduction in load capacity with an increase in the unladen weight from the batteries and the reduction in operating mileage with the need to recharge. Truck makers across the world have been working on the development of hydrogen-powered vehicles and with a particular emphasis on larger trucks although it has been interesting to see that four makers of light commercial vehicles introduced new hydrogen-powered models at the recent IAA Transportation show in Hannover. This has provided a clear indication of the appeal of this technology.

All this activity has not gone unnoticed in EU circles and an additional €1.2 billion fund has just been announced by the European Commission to support the production of renewable fuels of non-biological origin (RFNBO). At the same time, MAN Energy Solutions subsidiary company, electrolysis specialist Quest One, has opened a new ‘giga hub’ for the serial and automated production of electrolysis stacks in Hamburg. At full capacity this new factory is expected to produce stacks with a potential total electrolysis capacity of over five gigawatts per year. The UK is not lagging behind, with the Government announcing in October an £88 million finding boost for zero emission tech firms.

There are two ways to produce hydrogen. Firstly, by cracking fossil fuels – this is called ‘grey’ hydrogen because CO2 is always released when fossil fuels are processed. A second, and much cleaner way to create hydrogen is through electrolysis – when electricity generated from renewable sources is passed through water to create oxygen and hydrogen for a 100% carbon-free product. Used in vehicle engines, this produces only water as its emission.

There are two types of hydrogen-powered vehicle – one using hydrogen fuel-cells to generate electricity to drive electric propulsion and the other where hydrogen replaces diesel fuel in a conventional engine. Both systems require tanks for the hydrogen. The fuel-cell units are, of course, totally silent but the combustion engines have an advantage in hot climates and where power is needed over long periods.

Alternative Zero Emissions

MAN have won the Truck Innovation Award 2025 for their hTGX hydrogen combustion truck (pictured) offering an alternative zero-emission solution. Delivery of the first 200 units starts next year to customers in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Iceland and selected non-European countries providing an alternative zero-emission solution. Using the proven H45 engine, it is available in 6×2 and 6×4 axle configurations, enabling a high payload and with maximum ranges of up to 600 kms.

Volvo are also working on hydrogen fuelled trucks, but Toyota have gone further by carrying out trials in Belgium with a new hydrogen fuel-cell powered delivery truck for Coca Cola. This trial is in conjunction with the i gases company, Air Liquide. This collaboration is designed to highlight the potential development of both vehicles and infrastructure to provide operators with zero-emission vehicles. Toyota are also testing this system in trucks used by their logistics providers on their daily routes in Belgium, France and the Netherlands. Mercedes-Benz have their GenH2 truck which has a range of more than 1,000 km, carrying the same payload as a conventional diesel vehicle.

In the UK, Hydrogen Vehicle systems (HVS) has signed a deal to deliver 30 of its hydrogen fuel cell electric tractor units to Worksop-based Explore Plant and Transport Solutions. The trucks will be supported by a service and maintenance plan, full training on the safe use of hydrogen and refuelling, along with hydrogen refuelling infrastructure that fully meets Explore’s operational needs. Vauxhall is beginning customer trials of hydrogen fuel cell vans, based on their current Vivaro Electric range.

Providing an alternative to battery-electric vehicles, particularly at the heavy end of operations, the future looks strong for hydrogen power.

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Solution To Decarbonise Transport & Logistics

Posted on by David Priestman

Digital Catapult, a deep tech innovation organisation, has announced the results of a pilot programme it delivered to address the environmental impact of empty trucks on roads across the UK. The initiative trialled a new solution to decarbonise the transport-logistics sector, demonstrating a potential to cut CO2e emissions by 15-30%.

UK logistics play a critical role in driving economic growth, contributing £163 billion to the economy, and serving as a vital link between the UK and the global market. UK freight however accounts for 31% of all UK transport CO2 emissions, and statistics from the Department for Transport (DfT) show that 30% of trucks on UK roads are running with empty loads. The sector is under pressure to decarbonise without compromising on efficiency, and the pilot programme proved that deep tech can achieve this.

The pilot scheme was delivered by Digital Catapult in partnership with AF Blakemore & Son Ltd to explore how a shared digital infrastructure could establish more intelligent vehicle slot filling, routing, and tracking. Scaling of the solution would allow competing logistics providers to safely share information on available truck space across their collective fleets, without the need for a single party to have full control or visibility of the entire system.

The solution was trialled in a real-world industrial environment, and saw distributed ledger technology (DLT) and the internet of things (IoT) combined with an algorithm developed by project partner Fuuse, to optimise route planning and truck use. It achieved this by matching vehicle transport capacity with shipment needs across multiple UK organisations, and saw a 37% decrease in overall transport costs and a 9% improvement in vehicle fill rate for AF Blakemore & Son Ltd, one of the UK’s most successful family owned businesses.

The project, titled the Logistics Living Lab, is a UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) backed project, led by Digital Catapult and delivered as part of the Made Smarter Innovation | Digital Supply Chain Hub, which has so far helped over 40 startups and SMEs to secure more than £3 million in funding. This latest success is testament to the value of convening capabilities to strengthen supply chains in the UK, drawing on the expertise of partners and funders including Incept Consulting, Microsoft UK, Pairpoint, and Parity Technologies.

Tim Lawrence, Director of the Digital Supply Chain Hub at Digital Catapult said: – “When we launched the Made Smarter Innovation Digital Supply Chain Hub three years ago, we knew the potential of deep technologies for UK supply chains, but as we begin to see the results of the flagship projects like the Logistics Living Lab, we can start to realise potential into impact. The solutions built through this unique industry collaboration deliver a triple benefit to the UK logistics sector by empowering the organisations that make up our complex supply chains, to become more efficient, reduce costs to improve their bottom line and make a lasting environmental difference to positively contribute to the future of the planet.”

Phil Roe, President at Logistics UK said: – “Decarbonisation is the biggest challenge of the age and the pressure on the logistics sector to play our part is significant. We must deliver this in line with our efforts to overcome challenges in trade, insufficient infrastructure and a shortage of skills. What the Logistics Living Lab project has demonstrated is that digital technologies and close industry collaboration can play a crucial role in accelerating the journey to net zero, allowing UK logistics businesses to focus on optimising their operations to contribute to boosting growth for the UK economy.”

The project’s activities and outcomes are now detailed in a newly published report, accessible through the Digital Supply Chain Hub. Digital Catapult and its partners plan to scale this solution to further decarbonise the UK logistics sector. Companies interested in collaborating can contact Digital Catapult for more information.

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What stops Logistics Companies Achieving Sustainability?

Posted on by David Priestman

Sustainability is an important subject in 2024, especially when faced with rising pollution and climate change crises, writes Serge Schamschula, Head of Ecosystem at Trimble. Global logistics, which involves the transportation and storage of materials and information through supply chains, is part of the challenge that affects every industry.

Despite the crucial role the logistics and transport sector plays in global trade, its contribution to the environmental impact equals 11% equivalent to its share of the global national product.
Moreover, by 2030, the demand for urban last mile delivery is expected to increase by 78%, leading to a 36% increase in delivery vehicles in the world’s top 100 cities. Ultimately, responsibility for action rests with all of the companies involved, from shipping companies to delivery companies to airlines to retailers. Additionally, this exponential growth in delivery services is further compounded by the rapid expansion of e-commerce.

And while there are numerous challenges from this hard-to-abate sector, many companies are tackling their carbon footprint with strategies that deliver greener modes of transportation and more sustainable supply chains – from optimising routes to digitising logistics, electrifying freight fleets to solar-powering logistic facilities.

The Golden Ticket to Decarbonisation

Decarbonisation can’t be achieved by one single element, it requires a larger set of initiatives working in tandem together. There are a number of pressures both regulatory and financially on businesses to decarbonise their fleet. As mandated by the Paris Agreement, the British government has set ambitious targets for organisations to meet in order to achieve net zero emissions by 2050, and 68% reductions by 2030. Additionally, another pressure comes from customers, who are now choosing to purchase products and services from businesses that are committed to sustainability.

As a base for assessing its emissions outlay, fleets need to begin by collecting data and calculating greenhouse gas emissions, improving fleet, load and route planning, and reducing fuel and energy consumption. It is important to note that most of these solutions don’t just help reduce a company’s carbon footprint, but they also help reduce supply chain costs in many cases. For example, fleet monitoring, driver support systems, and eco-driving can reduce GHG emissions as well as fuel costs by as much as 20% at the same time.

The Challenges

Decarbonising fleets is a complex challenge, but one that businesses must address if they want to play a role in combating climate change and doing right by the planet and people. By taking action now, even if it’s small steps, businesses can help to create a more sustainable future. The biggest challenge for companies lies in data collection. Traditionally, Shippers and 3PLs have usually only planned transportation data of moderate quality, but by tapping into planning data, fleets can unlock a plethora of benefits, especially in reporting where they can see the gaps.

The use of planning data will lead to results for reporting purposes, but in reality, the actual emissions will significantly differ between carriers. The businesses need a neutral partner that can connect the supply chain players, be scalable, and allow them to obtain more realistic data by lifting what is called ‘primary data’ from the transport process. In the case of more than one consignment, the weight factor determines the share of the accountable weight, the type of energy, the mode of transportation, and the empty trip factor.

Refining processes

Through proactive refinement of key operational processes, businesses can reduce the environmental impact of their fleets and combat climate change. Fleet management systems are a prerequisite for businesses to track fuel usage and driver behaviour, with the information used to identify areas where significant fuel savings could be made. As an additional measure, route optimisation is likely to be of the utmost importance, along with driver training as a solution that is identified. In tandem, these two can lead to improved fuel efficiency for drivers, ensuring that everyone in your fleet knows the same level of best practice on the roads.

In an era defined by environmental awareness and sustainable business practices, industries are called upon to reevaluate their operational methods. And it’s no secret that the transport and logistics sector, known for its pivotal role in global connectivity, is also recognised as a substantial contributor to carbon emissions. As a result, incorporating innovative technologies and continuous refinement of strategies will enhance route planning’s transformative potential and enable organisations to meet their sustainability objectives for 2024 and beyond.

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Decarbonize your Supply Chain with Easy Tool

Posted on by David Priestman

Girteka has recently launched a pioneering tool in the logistics industry known as the Battery Electric Vehicle Insight (BEVI). This tool is uniquely designed to allow businesses to evaluate the feasibility and benefits of transitioning to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) for their logistics needs without the need of purchasing additional software.

The BEVI stands as the first tool of its kind, providing the opportunity for companies to gain personalized insights into how battery electric trucks can transform their operations. By simply entering the details about their typical routes and vehicle specifications, users will receive a comprehensive report that includes total route distance, estimated energy consumption, and required charging times.

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Using the BEVI

To access the tool, analyse its potential, and receive insights on electrifying your supply chain, follow these simple steps:
1. Visit our dedicated BEV landing page at www.girteka.eu/electric-trucks
2. Scroll down and enter your planned route information into the BEVI, including the start and end points.
3. Select the type of trailer you would utilize on that route (tilt, reefer).
4. Specify the type of terrain that characterizes your route (mountainous, flat, or a combination of the two).
5. Specify the total weight of the cargo to be transported.
6. Add any required or potential waypoints along your route.
7. Enter the expected duration of loading and unloading procedures.

Tailored Solution One Click Away

Upon completion of these steps, the BEVI will process the inputs and generate a comprehensive report detailing total route distance, estimated energy consumption, required charging times, and locations. This personalized report provides a clear snapshot of what switching to BEVs for your transport needs would look like, making your supply chain more sustainable and efficient.

“With such insights, each company, whether it operates in domestic or cross-border markets, can easily check their options if they were to utilize battery electric trucks on their routes. With support from our dedicated sustainability team, we can work on individual solutions, where we adapt drafted ideas into tangible, optimized, and environmentally sustainable solutions,” describes Remigijus Stugys, Marketing Manager at Girteka.

The transition to electric vehicles represents a significant step forward in the decarbonization of road transport. However, this shift also presents challenges such as infrastructure development, initial investment costs, and operational adjustments. Tools like the BEVI help companies navigate these complexities by demonstrating feasible scenarios and use cases of adopting BEVs, accompanied by solutions tailored to the client’s specific needs and requirements.

Collaborative Approach to Sustainable Logistics

The development and launch of the BEVI underscores a collaborative approach involving customers, manufacturers, and transport companies. “Only through shared efforts and a unified vision can we effectively decarbonize the logistics sector in a way that benefits both our planet and our economies,” states Viktorija Terekė, Head of Sustainability at Girteka.

This tool offers a straightforward, easily accessible way to understand the steps toward the implementation of electric vehicles in daily logistics operations. It is designed to provide businesses with practical data, helping them make informed decisions as part of a broader effort to reduce transport emissions. Together, companies and carriers can take meaningful steps towards decarbonization, recognizing that progress requires collaboration and a series of small, but impactful actions rather than a single solution.

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Decarbonisation of shipping could create up to four million green jobs

Posted on by Will Priestman
  • Decarbonisation of the global maritime industry could support the creation of up to four million green jobs by 2050.
  • Demand for e-fuels is set to scale to over 500m tonnes by 2040, requiring additional 2TW of renewable energy generation capacity and £3.2 trillion of infrastructure investment.
  • This significant capital investment will see most green jobs created during the 2030s, to support renewable energy capacity building.
  • Majority of jobs likely to be distributed in the Global South, where conditions are optimal for the production of green fuels.
  • Based on Green Jobs and Maritime Decarbonisation, new analysis by the Global Maritime Forum and Arup.

Copenhagen, 9 May 2024 – The Global Maritime Forum has revealed the immense economic potential presented by the decarbonisation of shipping. New analysis, commissioned by the Global Maritime Forum and conducted by Arup, projects that the maritime sector’s transition to e-fuels could support up to four million new green jobs by 2050, double the number of seafarers serving globally today. Job creation will be seen across the three main phases of the supply chain: renewable energy generation, hydrogen production and e-fuel production.

The shipping industry is currently responsible for 3% of global CO2 emissions, equivalent to the annual emissions of Japan. As the backbone of the global economy – responsible for 80% of global trade – the industry has faced enormous pressure to rapidly decarbonise. In 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO)’s member states agreed an end date to fossil fuel consumption “by or around” 2050.

Achieving this target will require large volumes of scalable zero emission fuels, a significant share of which will be e-fuels based on hydrogen. Projections show that shipping’s demand for e-fuels could rapidly scale to over 500 million tonnes by 2040, rising to 600 million tonnes by 2050. Meeting such demand could require an additional 2TW of renewable energy generation capacity, and 1TW of hydrogen production capacity by 2050.

Maritime transition is a trillion-dollar market opportunity

The analysis, titled Green Jobs and Maritime Decarbonisation, focuses on renewable energy and fuel production linked to e-fuels, adopting an illustrative scenario where e-fuels become the energy source for international shipping. In this scenario, up to £3.2 trillion of investment is required to support the development of renewable infrastructure, hydrogen production, and fuel production facilities for e-ammonia for shipping.

This significant capital investment will have a dramatic impact on the creation of green jobs across the supply chain. It also has the potential to create immense benefits to the wider economy, furthering climate action, whilst also supporting the development of renewable energy projects and the uptake of green hydrogen across other sectors.

Jesse Fahnestock, Director of Decarbonisation, at Global Maritime Forum, said: “This research marks a critical first step in exploring the fundamental role maritime decarbonisation will play in the creation of green jobs within the energy sector. The analysis demonstrates the sheer scale of the potential to create large numbers of highly-skilled green jobs, in this instance driven by a single fuel. Many of these jobs will also be transferable to other sectors – supporting further decarbonisation beyond shipping.”

Creating green jobs across the supply chain

Providing shipping decarbonisation keeps track with the IMO’s ‘striving indicative checkpoints’, the new data provides an outline of the growth of green jobs from the 2020s through the 2040s for each of the main areas of the supply chain – renewable energy generation, hydrogen production and e-fuel production.

Due to the rapid scaling of e-fuel uptake during the 2030s, it’s predicted that this decade will see the creation of the most green jobs across each area of the supply chain – an upper bound range of between 1m and 4m jobs worldwide. This will be supported by over £2.2 trillion of capital investment in the development renewables and infrastructure, and a huge build-out of energy and fuel capacity – 1,500GW of renewable energy generation, 800GW of green hydrogen, and 530Mtpa of green ammonia.

Job numbers are likely to be smaller in the 2020s and ultimately reduce in the 2040s, as capital investment reduces. A large proportion of these jobs, however, will be transferable to other sectors and will ultimately support the development of wider renewable energy capacity; aiding decarbonisation efforts across other sectors.

Jeremy Anderson, Director of Just Transition and Sustainable Transport at International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), said: “The creation of new green jobs can help address economic inequalities between the Global North and Global South. However, green jobs must also be good jobs, with decent working conditions, labour rights, and a strong voice for workers.”

More attention required to map green jobs potential in maritime 

As trillions of capital investment gets funnelled into green fuels for the maritime sector, stimulating the creation of green jobs can help countries transition away from fossil fuels, whilst providing a direct, quantifiable contribution to a country’s economy.

Investments in the Global South in particular, where climate provides the greatest conditions for e-fuel production, have shown to contribute significantly toward higher job creation, relative to an equivalent investment in a country in the Global North. This suggests a higher potential for developing countries to leverage investments towards wider green job creation.

Connor Bingham, Project Manager at Global Maritime Forum and author of Green Jobs and Maritime Decarbonisation, said: “The huge levels of investment will impact all corners of the globe, helping many countries around the world provide opportunities to workers negatively affected by the transition away from more carbon-intensive industries. It’s vital that we further explore the different geographic implications, particularly in the Global South, to ensure we can unlock the enormous potential for economic growth across nations.”

The Global Maritime Forum calls for further research and analysis on the role of other future fuels, beyond e-fuels, in the creation of quality green jobs, as well as building a stronger understanding of the different geographical implications relating to the decarbonisation of the maritime sector.

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Transition Tool for Informed Fleet Electrification

Posted on by David Priestman

Webfleet, Bridgestone’s global fleet management solution, has launched the EV Transition Tool to support businesses transitioning to electric vehicles (EVs) or expanding their EV fleets. This innovative solution, the first resulting directly from the recently introduced EV Services Platform, promises to transform the way fleets approach electrification, helping them to meet sustainability targets and run efficient, reliable operations.

In collaboration with leaders from the energy and mobility industries, the Webfleet EV Transition Tool is designed to demystify and simplify the process of transitioning to electric vehicles using a single platform.

By leveraging their own fleet data, customers can assess their readiness for electrification, estimate the total cost of ownership (TCO) for going electric, the operational cost and CO2 savings.
Additionally, they can gain valuable insights into the most suitable EV models and the estimated charging infrastructure needed for their specific operations.

The tool not only simplifies the decision-making process for fleet managers but also allows them to directly reach out to leading energy and mobility service providers – partners of the EV Services Platform. Initially, customers can directly connect to VEV, Heliox, The Mobility House, CTEK, Justplugin, ChargeGuru and Zeplug for end-to-end charging solutions across depots, workplaces and homes, streamlining the setup of charging infrastructure.

“Our goal is to take the guesswork out of the EV transition for our customers, based on their own fleet data,” said Taco Olthoff, EV Programme Director of Bridgestone Mobility Solutions. “By providing fleets of all sizes with a quick TCO estimation, they can kick-start their electrification journey without the need for time-consuming and costly consultancy. Users can then take the next steps to electrification, supported by our network of expert partners, directly accessible within the tool itself.”

The introduction of the Webfleet EV Transition Tool marks a significant step forward in fleet electrification support. The solution utilises fleet data for customised fleet electrification plans at no extra cost to European Webfleet customers subscribed to specific tariffs.

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