UCL researchers help shape COP31 Maritime Electrification Breakthrough Goal: 20% of international shipping’s energy to be electric by 2035
Analysis from UCL’s Shipping and Oceans Research Group underpins the target to electrify around 2 exajoules of international shipping’s final energy demand, as part of COP31’s drive to lift electricity to 35% of global final energy demand.
London, Tuesday 10th November 2026 – A new Maritime Electrification Breakthrough Goal, launched at COP31 in Antalya, creates a shared ambition in the maritime value chain to raise electricity’s share of international shipping’s final energy demand to at least 20% (around 2 EJ) by 2035. The goal supports the wider COP31 ambition of lifting electricity’s share of global final energy demand to 35% by 2035, up from just over 20% today.
The UCL Shipping and Oceans Research Group, helped estimate what a credible target for maritime electrification could be, including the derivation of the 2 EJ figure. The UCL Energy Institute is among the organisations supporting the goal, alongside ports, shipping and technology companies, NGOs and research bodies.
Why 2 EJ is achievable
The goal applies to final energy demand, meaning the energy used to deliver a service. It therefore covers electricity used directly on-board ships, through shore power and battery electrification. Electricity used to produce renewable fuels such as green ammonia is not counted, although it is another sign of electrification’s growing role in the sector.
This efficiency advantage, together with falling renewable power and battery costs, supports the feasibility of the target. It draws on recent research estimating that vessel segments representing about 30% of maritime energy consumption could be technically electrified by 2030, and that electrification would be economically advantageous for around 90% of that fleet segment. Separate UCL research published in August 2026 estimated that around 10% of international shipping’s greenhouse gas emissions occur within port areas, pointing to further opportunities for shore power and battery-electric propulsion.
What signatories are committing to
Sharing knowledge and lessons learned
Taking part in public/private platforms, pilots and demonstrations
Supporting a just transition for the maritime workforce
Working with finance institutions to expand access to capital for electrification infrastructure
Reviewing progress annually until 2035, including improving data collection to establish baselines
The statement also calls on governments to adopt a progressive set of climate measures at the International Maritime Organization in 2026 to support the 2023 GHG Strategy, and to include maritime electrification in their Nationally Determined Contributions and in the Second Global Stocktake.
Professor Tristan Smith, Co-lead of the UCL Shipping and Oceans Research Group, said:
“Rapid near-term growth in end-use electrification is the high-level ambition of COP31, and maritime is one of the places where it is already moving forward. Unlike parts of decarbonisation that still need a stronger lever, such as e-fuels, electrification is further up the transition curve and already has a following wind.
Our role was to help work out what a reasonable maritime target could be. Discussing it with stakeholders, I was often told that grid connections won’t happen, or that shore power is only a transient opportunity because green fuels will remove the use case. I have a lot of sympathy for the pessimism about grid delivery, but those responses don’t align with the evidence. I hope this push helps unlock more openness to maritime electrification.”
Link to full text of the COP31 Maritime Electrification Breakthrough Goal: https://www.hacc.world/news-resources/maritime-electrification-breakthrough-goal
