The H2Global Foundation and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping have signed an MoU to explore market-based instruments, such as double-sided auctions, to accelerate maritime decarbonization. The partnership aims to bridge the clean fuel demand gap by creating reliable offtake certainty and price signals for green hydrogen-derived fuels like e-methanol and e-ammonia. Together, the organizations will evaluate energy attribute certificates, regulatory compliance frameworks like FuelEU Maritime, and trading platform standardization to scale low-emission shipping solutions.
Copenhagen, Denmark | July 22, 2026 – The H2Global Foundation and the Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to investigate how market-based instruments can rapidly scale decarbonization within the global shipping industry.
The agreement was formalized by Markus Exenberger, CEO of the H2Global Foundation, and Pernille Dahlgaard, Chief Impact Officer of the Center. The partnership highlights a shared conviction that market-based mechanisms, most notably double-sided auctions for hydrogen-derived green fuels, are critical catalysts for overcoming economic hurdles in maritime energy transition.
Bridging the Clean Fuel Demand Gap
Accounting for roughly three percent of global greenhouse gas emissions, the shipping industry faces immense pressure to pivot toward sustainability. While clean hydrogen-based alternatives like e-methanol and e-ammonia present viable pathways for deep decarbonization, widespread commercial production remains stifled. Producers frequently struggle to secure the long-term demand certainty required to greenlight final investment decisions.
By uniting the Center’s comprehensive maritime expertise and global industry network with H2Global’s proven double-sided auction mechanism and public funding mobilization capabilities, the partnership aims to bridge this gap, establishing the price signals and offtake certainty necessary for first-of-a-kind clean energy projects.
Key Areas of Collaboration
Under the terms of the MoU, the two organizations will focus joint research and strategic efforts on several core initiatives:
- Evaluating Double-Sided Auctions: Assessing the commercial and practical feasibility of double-sided auctions for clean fuels and Energy Attribute Certificates (EACs).
- Regulatory Compliance: Analyzing the strategic role of EACs and “book and claim” accounting frameworks under key environmental mandates such as FuelEU Maritime.
- Standardization and Trading Platforms: Contributing to the standardization of EACs and investigating the deployment of existing trading platforms, including the European Energy Exchange (EEX).
Leadership Perspectives
Markus Exenberger, Chief Executive Officer, H2Global Foundation, said “Shipping needs clean fuels, and clean fuel producers need reliable demand. By combining the Center’s deep knowledge of the maritime sector with H2Global’s proven double-sided auction mechanism, we can help create the price signals and offtake certainty that first-of-a-kind projects need.”
Pernille Dahlgaard, Chief Impact Officer, Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping, said “Decarbonizing hard-to-abate industries requires innovation in both technology and markets. Effective subsidy instruments can be a critical enabler, accelerating the transition for all. We are pleased to welcome H2Global into our rich ecosystem of partner organizations, and look forward to working together to put these insights into practice, scaling the low-emission fuels the world needs to enable decarbonization.”
About the Organizations
H2Global Foundation
The H2Global Foundation drives the global shift toward clean commodities by building international networks, engaging key decision-makers, and forging essential partnerships with governments, corporations, and philanthropic institutions. Leveraging rigorous research, data-driven analysis, and its Solutions Lab, the foundation adapts its unique double-sided auction mechanism for successful deployment across multiple energy sectors.
Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping
The Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping (MMMCZCS) is an independent, not-for-profit R&D organization dedicated to guiding and accelerating maritime decarbonization. Operating free of commercial biases, the Center partners with global stakeholders to deliver independent analyses, de-risk decision-making, and mature scalable solutions spanning alternative fuels, onboard technologies, financing, and regulations.
Source: MMMCZCS