Invested at the Seams of the Maritime Energy Transition
Published
Contributors
The maritime industry’s transition to a decarbonized future is an economic necessity — driven by regulatory pressures, market volatility, innovation and the need for long-term financial resilience in an increasingly complex and competitive global economy.
As a cornerstone of global trade, the maritime industry moves over 80% of the world’s goods. But despite being a lower greenhouse gas (GHG) emission mode of transportation compared to air freight on a per-ton basis, it still accounts for 3% of all global emissions. Maritime emissions have risen 20% in the past decade alone as global trade volumes have increased.
With global regulations tightening and companies pushing for more surety across the supply chain, S2G believes maritime companies that are early adopters of energy-efficient technologies stand to gain a competitive edge. Near-term solutions are available today that can help improve capital efficiency, bolster supply chain resilience, and help companies future-proof their operations in an increasingly volatile global trade environment.
In this report, we offer our perspective on these near-term solutions, as well as related case studies, that illustrate this investment thesis. In addition, we consider the alignment to key considerations of vessel type, age, and contracting structures that drive market adoption for each.
Highlights Include
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Solutions like AI-enabled voyage optimization, air lubrication systems, wind-assisted propulsion, and battery integration can reduce emissions by up to 30 – 40%, offering both economic and environmental returns today.
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The International Maritime Organization’s 2025 draft regulation introduces a global price on carbon, creating a major incentive for energy efficiency adoption. Geopolitical uncertainty, volatile fuel markets, and national mandates like the EU ETS further amplify the need for innovation.
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An estimated $1.4 — $1.9 trillion in investment will be needed to decarbonize the maritime industry by 2050. The report explores financing strategies — from hardware-as-a-service (HaaS) to long-term vessel leasing models — that can unlock capital efficiency and scale deployment.
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Featured examples include S2G portfolio companies Sofar Ocean, which uses the world’s largest distributed ocean sensor network and AI-enabled routing to reduce fuel use and emissions, and Purus, a developer and operator of low-carbon vessels deploying hybrid and alternative fuel technologies at scale.
