GreenMED efforts towards decarbonisation
GreenMED is a regionally-focused project aimed at creating scenario-based decarbonisation pathways to support policy-making and informed investment decisions, facilitating the clean energy transition in the Mediterranean. The project focuses on the region’s shipping energy demand and supply chain capacities. GreenMED will contribute to the EU’s emission reduction targets by integrating innovative technologies aligned with economic, social, and environmental criteria. It will assess regional ship energy demands, fuel supply chains on both shores, and emerging green shipping technologies, culminating in the creation of the Mediterranean Sustainable Shipping Observatory (MSSO). The MSSO will serve as a hub for decarbonisation, fostering stakeholder collaboration and knowledge sharing. MSSO will build on existing studies to map energy consumption and fuel supply chains while developing a comprehensive roadmap for decarbonising the region. Its contributions will enhance knowledge capacity to meet EU and international decarbonisation targets.
MSSO is the bridge to decarbonisation in the Mediterranean Sea through collaborative frameworks for integrated data sharing and analysis. By establishing an interoperable platform, diverse datasets from alternative fuels, marine economics, comprehensive marine data, and technologies can be cohesively accessed and utilised. Joint research across sectors will deepen understanding and innovation while harmonising policies based on insights from observatories will ensure cohesive strategies for sustainable development. Strengthening partnerships among academia, industry, government, and civil society will drive collective action towards sustainability goals. Enhancing public awareness and engagement will build support for integrated approaches to climate change and sustainable growth in Europe.
In more detail, MSSO will define and assess all energy options for the shipping industry, including conventional fossil fuels, alternative fuels, and green shipping technologies, with a focus on the Mediterranean region. This effort involves evaluating the challenges and potentials for green shipping, conducting a comprehensive analysis of maritime transportation activity, and mapping bunkering facilities and port infrastructures. In parallel, MSSO will enhance its knowledge base through regionally-oriented studies on energy demand and the fuel supply chain, performing technological, environmental, and economic assessments at both regional and national levels. This includes projecting the future status of the fuel supply chain and energy demand, developing a Readiness Investment Index (RII) to support stakeholder decision-making, and assessing future decarbonization scenarios.
In its commitment to fostering regional cooperation, MSSO will facilitate knowledge sharing among stakeholders to promote green shipping solutions and enhance skills in sustainable maritime transport and energy efficiency across both northern and southern Mediterranean countries. It will also develop decarbonization pathways as part of a broader roadmap for achieving carbon neutrality and identify best practices for policy-making and industrial-level strategies. To boost investment opportunities, MSSO will provide industry tools to assess user-specific scenarios. Furthermore, MSSO will ensure the wide dissemination of project outcomes to relevant scientific, industrial, and public audiences, fostering synergies with other ongoing actions and initiatives. A continuation plan will be established to ensure the long-term impact and sustainability of the project’s key outputs.
Full mapping of decarbonisation through green shipping technologies
The MSSO will build a diverse stakeholder network to support its knowledge base. For the successful establishment and operation of the MSSO, it will engage a wide range of stakeholders from both the public and private sectors, as well as the academic community. The selected stakeholders from the public and private sectors include shipyards, ship management companies, fuel industry firms, technology providers, port operators, ministries, trade associations, NGOs, and regulatory bodies, all of which play key roles in the shipping industry’s decarbonisation. Shipyards and ship managers focus on implementing sustainable technologies, while fuel companies and technology providers drive the transition to alternative fuels. Ports are vital energy hubs supporting alternative fuel supply chains, and trade associations, classification societies, and NGOs provide standards and advocacy for sustainability. In the academic sector, universities, researchers, and maritime academies contribute expertise in naval architecture, marine engineering, shipping economics, and data science, advancing innovation and fostering sustainability in maritime education. Engaging stakeholders from Greece, Cyprus, Spain, Egypt, and other Mediterranean countries ensures a coordinated regional approach to decarbonising shipping, harmonising policies, and supporting key ports and trade routes like Piraeus, Valencia, Alexandria, and the Suez Canal. This broad engagement drives collaboration toward meaningful decarbonisation in the Mediterranean shipping sector.
