NACE Macro-Sector: H - Transporting and storage
Level 2: H50
Level 3: H50.4
Level 4: H50.4.0
Description:
Inland freight water transport
Metric and threshold:
• Zero direct emissions inland waterways vessels are eligible.
• Dedicated vessels solely using advanced biofuels or renewable liquid and gaseous transport fuels of non-biological origin as defined in Art. 2 (34) and Art. 2 (36) in line with Directive (EU) 2018/2001), guaranteed either by technological design or ongoing third-party monitoring and verification. In addition, for an investment in new vessels, only vessels with efficiency corresponding to direct CO2 emissions (gCO2/ tkm) (including biogenic CO2) below the average reference value defined for HDVs (Heavy Duty CO2 Regulation) are eligible. Eligibility should be reviewed in 2025, or when Directive (EU) 2018/2001) is reviewed.
• Other inland waterway vessels are eligible if direct emissions per tkm CO2e emissions per tonne kilometre (gCO2e/tkm) or per tonne nautical mile (gCO2e/tnm) are 50% lower than the average reference value defined for HDVs (Heavy Duty CO2 Regulation). Eligibility should be reviewed in 2025.
• Vessels that are dedicated to the transport of fossil fuels or any blended fossil fuels are not eligible even if meeting the criteria above
Brief rationale:
Zero direct emissions inland waterway transport (e.g. electric, hydrogen) is eligible because:
• With the present energy mix, the overall emissions associated with zero direct emissions rail transport (i.e. electric or hydrogen) are among the lowest compared with other transport modes.
• The generation of the energy carriers used by zero direct emissions transport is assumed to become low or zero carbon in the near future
The threshold of 50% lower than average reference CO2 emissions of HDVs ensures that the carbon intensity remains similar to criteria for eligible road freight vehicles, with a review in 2025 to assess technology developments in the freight transport sector. The Heavy Duty CO2 Regulation uses a g CO2/km metric. To convert this to a g CO2/tonne-km metric, the average payload for the road freight vehicles should be applied. Once reference value data is available, it is expected that the taxonomy will specify CO2e/tkm threshold values.
Substantial contribution to climate mitigation from fuel substitution is in line with the agreed taxonomy regulation.