Fostering Sustainable Maritime Solutions at the Swedish Parliament

Blue Supply Chains was invited by Joakim Jakobsson from Liquid Wind to contribute to a lunch seminar hosted by Swedish Parliament members Helena Gellerman and Maria Stockhaus. The seminar centered on a report outlining strategies for Sweden to become a global leader in producing renewable fuels for sectors such as maritime transport (only in Swedish: https://www.liquidwind.com/nyheter/ny-rapport-sverige-har-en-unik-mjlighet-att-bli-vrldsledande-inom-fossilfria-elektrobrnslennbsp). The event brought together representatives from industry, academia, and government to address the urgent need for sustainable solutions in transport.

Linda Styhre, a researcher and expert in maritime decarbonization at IVL, participated in a panel discussion alongside David Hild, CEO of Fly Green Fund. The panel explored critical challenges and opportunities in transitioning the maritime and aviation sectors to fossil-free operations. Key points raised by Styhre included:

• The maritime sector’s pivotal role in Swedish trade, with 70–80% of the country’s exports transported via sea.

• The environmental impact of shipping, which accounts for approximately 3% of global CO₂ emissions, with 99% of the global fleet still reliant on fossil fuels.

• The necessity for stronger policy measures to reduce the cost disparity between fossil and fossil-free fuels, enabling broader adoption of sustainable alternatives.

• The critical role of electrofuels as a complement to biofuels, essential for achieving large-scale decarbonization in the maritime industry.

• Sweden’s potential to become a leading exporter of renewable fuels, provided there is robust political support and accelerated action in the transition process.

The seminar underscored the challenges of decarbonizing the maritime sector but also highlighted its feasibility with concerted efforts. Blue Supply Chains is proud to contribute its expertise to these discussions, showcasing actionable pathways to accelerate the transport sector’s shift toward sustainability, particularly in maritime operations.

The Blue Supply Chains project, funded by the European Union’s Interreg Baltic Sea Region program and Trafikverket, aims to establish fossil-free and commercially viable shipping corridors in the Baltic Sea region. Led by Hafen Hamburg Marketing e.V., the project is managed in Sweden by CLOSER at Lindholmen Science Park. The Swedish consortium includes IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Umeå Kommun, Umeå Energi AB, Umeå Hamn AB, INAB-Infrastruktur i Umeå AB, and Kvarken Ports Ltd., with additional expertise provided by Sjöfartsverket. By fostering collaboration across borders and sectors, the project develops innovative solutions to enhance the sustainability of maritime supply chains, aligning with global climate goals.

Join Lindholmen Science Park and IVL at Almedalen Week

Blue Supply Chains invites stakeholders to continue the conversation on sustainable maritime transport at Almedalen Week 2025. Project Manager Camilla Sundqvist (Lindholmen Science Park) and Research Lead Linda Styhre (IVL) will be available for discussions at the following sessions:

• Wednesday, June 25, 2025, from 15:30 to 16:30 at Handelskamrarnas arena (https://almedalsveckan.info/rg/almedalsveckan/evenemang-almedalsveckan/2025/1156).

• Thursday, June 26, 2025, from 11:00 to 12:00 at Region Västerbotten’s arena.

These sessions offer opportunities to explore practical strategies for transforming the maritime sector and advancing Sweden’s leadership in sustainable transport solutions. We look forward to engaging with partners, policymakers, and industry leaders to drive meaningful progress.

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