The Clean Energy Marine Hubs (CEM Hubs) initiative has gained further support during a ministerial event hosted by the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) at its 13th Assembly in Abu Dhabi. IRENA welcomes the CEM Hubs initiative, a cross-sectoral public-private platform aimed to accelerate the production, transport and use of low-carbon fuels that will be transported by shipping for the world, implemented by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), IAPH and the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM). IRENA is the leading global intergovernmental agency for energy transformation and its membership comprises of 168 countries and the European Union. IRENA’s support bridges the shipping industry and ports with the renewable energy sector. IRENA is the principal platform for international cooperation, boasting near-global membership it supports stakeholders in their energy transitions, and brings a wealth of insights, best practices, data analysis and knowledge to the CEM Hubs initiative. The CEM Hubs Initiative taskforce, with other members of the shipping industry, actively engaged in a Ministerial Roundtable at IRENA’s 13th Assembly and joined in the discussions about renewable energy generation to produce low-carbon fuels, strategies going forward and the role of shipping and ports, to support the wider energy transition. IAPH members Abu Dhabi Ports Group and Port of Antwerp-Bruges attended the meeting. IRENA will continue to expand its collaboration with ICS, IAPH and partners in the shipping sector to further strengthen the CEM Hubs initiative and accelerate the use of renewables-based fuels in the shipping and other end-use sectors. Co-led by a taskforce of CEO’s and coordinated with the support of ICS and IAPH, the initiative was first presented at the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) in Pittsburgh in September 2022. With the backing of five countries already – the UAE, Canada, Norway, Uruguay and Panama – the initiative continues to gain momentum to be launched as a CEM initiative at the 14th Clean Energy Ministerial in India in 2023.
