Press Release: The new Skies and Seas Hydrogen-fuels Accelerator (SASHA) Coalition is bringing together leaders from across shipping and aviation to send a clear demand signal that green hydrogen and direct air capture (DAC) are integral to decarbonisation pathways in these sectors.
Green hydrogen and carbon dioxide from DAC will play a crucial role in achieving global decarbonisation goals. However, their limited supplies must be targeted towards the industries that do not have faster, more efficient routes to decarbonisation. Currently, EU and UK policy does not do enough to ensure the supply of green hydrogen and DAC will be available for the aviation and shipping sectors.
Tomorrow (24 May) on a webinar, the SASHA Coalition will be launched with exclusive research from Arup showing that the best way to decarbonise shipping and aviation is by using green hydrogen and carbon dioxide from DAC and that these will be needed to produce sustainable fuels in these sectors. The problem is that green hydrogen and carbon dioxide from DAC will remain in limited supply due to factors like cost and inefficiency, meaning that their use should be targeted towards sectors that have no more efficient alternatives
Despite this, they’re being referenced in policies for use in a wide range of sectors, such as the UK Government’s Net Zero Strategy and the EU’s REPowerEU policy. However, regulations that encourage the use of these fuels in sectors that do not require it will only cause a delay in tackling the climate crisis. The SASHA Coalition will address this gap in policy coherence and put the case forward to policymakers that the use of green hydrogen and DAC should be prioritised in the sectors where it is needed most, including shipping and aviation.
The new coalition has been set up by climate change NGO Opportunity Green and is being officially launched by Lord Deben, Chair of the UK’s independent Committee on Climate Change, at a virtual event taking place on 24 May.
The SASHA Coalition will help to facilitate policy discussions and provide members with the knowledge, tools, assets and materials they need to make an impact. Ensuring green hydrogen and DAC goes to those sectors that need it most will reduce the cost and increase the speed of the transition to a zero carbon world.
Aoife O’Leary, CEO of Opportunity Green and director of the SASHA Coalition, says:
“Individual airlines and shipping companies are calling for green hydrogen in their sectors, but their voices are not loud enough on their own. These industries need to form one powerful, unified voice on this issue so they have greater influence over policy.”
“Achieving a just transition to a net zero future in the aviation and shipping sectors is an ambitious goal, but it is possible with the right collaboration between industry leaders and decision makers. I’m pleased to see shipping companies and airlines increasing their efforts to transition to sustainable fuels. This is a key driver in their journey towards net zero, and it will also provide a wealth of co-benefit opportunities, such as cleaner air around port and airport communities, skilled job creation, and decentralised green fuel production.”
Sally Prickett, Director of Hydrogen, CCUS and New Fuels in Arup’s Advisory team says:
“A secure supply of green hydrogen is going to be crucial to produce sustainable aviation and shipping fuels, and our research for the SASHA Coalition found that a number of likely decarbonisation pathways for these industries involve green hydrogen. We also found that many other sectors are looking towards green hydrogen as a solution for decarbonisation. It is important for shipping and aviation companies to be clear about the share they need, and we’re pleased to support the SASHA Coalition in providing the necessary research and data to develop their case.”
