5 reasons why we need another shipping and aviation coalition
In setting up the Skies And Seas Hydrogen-fuels Accelerator (SASHA) Coalition, I often get asked whether another coalition is necessary. It’s true that there are a number of brilliant coalitions in the decarbonisation space in both aviation and shipping – but none do what SASHA does.
This blog will go through the five unique reasons that the SASHA coalition is different – and necessary. Read on…
1. There is no other coalition focused exclusively on green-hydrogen fuels and hydrogen-derived fuels
The SASHA Coalition is explicitly focused on green hydrogen and green hydrogen-derived fuels. While there are a number of other coalitions doing great work on fuels in general for both sectors, all truly sustainable fuels in the long run for both sectors require green hydrogen.
While it is likely that a range of fuels will make up the future fuel mix, one thing that these pathways have in common is the need for green hydrogen – and, for some, direct air capture – to produce them. We must go all the way to the lowest emission fuels, not just low emission fuels and that means those produced from green hydrogen.
The infographic below from our “Green Hydrogen Gap” report clearly illustrates this. SASHA is working to put in place mechanisms to incentivise the use of fuels with the greatest potential to reduce full lifecycle emissions over those with less emission reduction potential.
All pathways to truly sustainable fuels for the shipping and aviation sectors require green hydrogen
2. Shipping and aviation are stronger together
Shipping and aviation are stronger together but also face many of the same challenges when it comes to securing a sustainable fuel supply. Both are sectors that have a large energy demand but are often neglected by policymakers due to their international nature. Both sectors need investment in the production of hydrogen-derived fuels to be stimulated.
While both sectors individually are making the case that hydrogen will be key to their decarbonisation, this message will be heard even louder if unified as one voice.
With both sectors coming together, policymakers will understand that this is not just one sector out for itself but a true coalition that is looking to ensure the goals of the Paris Agreement are achieved. Other industries are already being prioritised by governments for hydrogen and without stronger interventions and stronger policy, the aviation and shipping sectors will be overlooked.
3. SASHA is explicitly policy focused
Regulation stimulates innovation. If the price of green hydrogen is to be reduced, regulation needs to require its availability. This was discussed at our launch webinar in May this year (which you can watch back here in case you missed it).
There was consensus from all the panellists (Lord Deben the ex-Chair of the Climate Change Committee, Sally Prickett from Arup , Luisa Puccio from the European Community Shipowners' Associations and Laurent Donceel from Airlines For Europe) that despite the importance of green hydrogen in producing sustainable shipping and aviation fuels, that policy and regulations must go further to make this transition a reality.
While the industry can and does produce brilliant individual projects that are focused on one fuel or another, it is only with policy change that the entire industry will be incentivised to move to green hydrogen. But without legislation, industry will have to take on this cost voluntarily.
4. SASHA’s focus is hydrogen regulators, not transport regulators
At the moment the shipping and aviation sectors are not in the room where hydrogen decisions are being made. Shipping and aviation do a brilliant job of speaking to transport regulators, but those regulators are not making the hydrogen policy decisions.
Instead, hydrogen policymakers are hearing clearly and consistently from home heating, power-balancing and road transport sectors for hydrogen – but all of these sectors have other, more efficient ways to ensure full decarbonisation. On the other hand, policymakers must take a cross-departmental approach to hydrogen policy, ensuring transport stakeholders are involved in decision-making on future uses of green hydrogen, and this is something the SASHA coalition is advocating for.
5. SASHA is a collaborative coalition
After all that talk about why we are unique, we also want to emphasise that we are also very collaborative and would be delighted to work with all existing coalitions. There is so much excellent work going on, from the Global Maritime Forum to Sustainable Aviation, we’re always keen to amplify and collaborate on this work.
Joining the SASHA Coalition provides an opportunity for companies from the shipping and aviation sectors to work alongside peers and future-proof their operations by shaping the very regulations they will need to comply with in future.
We’re keen to talk to ambitious companies from the shipping and aviation sectors who want to take a lead in driving the uptake of green hydrogen for their sectors. So, if you are reading this and agree that these are good reasons for a new coalition then get in touch, we’d love to have you as a member!
Find out about what this entails – and how your company can become a first mover in this area in our members FAQ.
