In a joint letter presented today, Transport & Environment (&E) and 15 other active organisations and companies mainly in the field of energy transition, they denounce that the SMAP (Sustainable Maritime Alternative Propulsion) mechanism, which was introduced by the European Commission in Emissions Trading System Review Package EU ETS that it presented in July ( of 17 July 2026), risks rewarding solutions that are already available instead of unlocking fuel investments concise. The 16 signatories admit, however, that the SMAP is the most concrete measure envisaged for maritime transport, reserving up to 110 million in allowances between 2028 (or the first year after entry into force) and 2040 that are necessary to cover the price differential between marine fuels and part of the costs of sustainable and fossil fuel technologies, zero-emission propulsion. The beneficiary is the company of navigation, which can request each year the assignment in based on fuel used or emission reductions for the year previous.

Specifying that the support provided by the SMAP is estimated at €15 billion between 2028 and 2040, the signatories underline that a mechanism of this magnitude can push shipowners towards e-fuels, which in this period will have to Scale to meet decarbonisation targets long-term. Remembering that Sustainable Transport Investment Plan (STIP) is based on estimates that in less than ten years could take 4.6 million tons of e-fuels to achieve the objectives of the European FuelEU regulation Maritime, the signatories acknowledge that the proposal goes precisely into this direction by providing for a coverage of the differential of Higher price for e-fuels than other fuels alternatives. The 16 signatories, however, believe that, although they are A welcome step, but it is enough. The problem - they explain - is The nature of the investments: e-fuel plants require a lot of capital, and producers can only get ahead if they have long-term purchase agreements signed with customers (offtake). According to the signatories of the letter, the current proposal does not offer sufficient support to this process. It follows - argue - that SMAP should reward above all the use of e-fuels in the long term, and not short-term technological options that could already be incentivized by the existing legislation.

In order to respond to this problem, a few days the start of the debate on the revision of the ETS in Parliament and Council, the signatories ask for two changes to be made in the context of the negotiations, starting with the reservation of a quota allowances for e-fuels, thus ensuring that SMAP will help long-term options, including some produced in Europe, and not just short-term solutions already on the market. The second proposed amendment is the introduction of an advance booking mechanism (book-in-advance) for e-fuels. Without price support guaranteed - the signatories observe - it is unlikely that the owners sign long-term contracts with manufacturers. The mechanism would make projects more eligible for funding that in the The vast majority of cases are in the pre-decision phase final investment. The letter recalls that a A similar approach is already provided for in the proposal on allowances for sustainable aviation fuels (SAF Allowance).

The signatories, therefore, do not question the logic of the SMAP, but ask for a course correction: if the quota reserved for the and advance booking will enter the text - they claim - the mechanism would reward e-fuels more than others fuels.

The letter, in addition to Transport & Environment, is underwritten by Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Hy24, Getaer Zero Fuels, Reolum, European Energy, Elyse Energy, Moeve, Iberdrola, MGH Energy, Avalon Renovables, Green Transition Denmark, NABU and zero.