The fourth IRU Green Compact roundtable, hosted by IRU member TotalEnergies, brought together key industry players to discuss the challenges and opportunities of implementing alternative fuels in commercial road transport.
Following the last IRU Green Compact event on efficiency measures, this roundtable, co-organised by IRU and TotalEnergies, welcomed representatives from around 55 major companies, all looking to advance the pragmatic adoption of alternative fuels.
The discussions began with an overview of the IRU Green Compact and the role of alternative fuels in achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The total cost of ownership of alternative fuels was emphasised as a key factor driving an efficient transition.
Infrastructure deployment challenges across Europe took centre stage, with insights from charging point and grid operators. Their contributions underscored the necessity for cooperation and policy support to accelerate this transition.
The discussion then turned to alternative fuel vehicles, with original equipment manufacturers showcasing their latest offerings and transport operators sharing their investment strategies. Participants explored the economic challenges of decarbonisation, with shippers and transport operators highlighting financial barriers and potential financing schemes to drive change.
TotalEnergies also presented its 2024 Energy Outlook, which sets out the challenges and issues of energy transition against a backdrop of growing energy demand. The Outlook explores three scenarios for the evolution of the global energy system up to 2050.
The event concluded with a visit to the CRES Research Centre (Centre de Recherche de Solaize) showroom and labs, where attendees saw firsthand TotalEnergies' latest innovations in fuel and lubricant technologies.
Vincent Erard, IRU’s Senior Director of Strategy and Development, said, “This roundtable was a unique opportunity to provide a platform for all actors in the mobility sector to learn from each other, exchange ideas, and discuss solutions for pragmatically implementing actions aimed at the decarbonisation of road transport. The industry and its stakeholders are committed to change. Our role is to create the right conditions that will allow this crucial transition to not only occur but also to scale effectively.”
Aimeric Ramadier, Strategy and Supply Director at TotalEnergies’ Marketing and Services Division, added, “Exchanges and discussions at the IRU level show that the path for the decarbonisation of commercial transport in Europe covers a mix of energy solutions. TotalEnergies, as a global energy company, is committed to supporting its customers in their progressive decarbonisation journey with, for example, depot charging or biofuels”.
About Green Compact
IRU’s Green Compact is a collective global action to achieve carbon neutrality in commercial road transport by 2050.
With the Green Compact, IRU aims to develop a pragmatic, collaborative and evidence-based strategy to drive the most effective and cost-efficient decarbonisation of road transport.
The IRU Green Compact roundtables provide an exclusive, confidential setting to discuss decarbonisation challenges and opportunities.
Hosted by an IRU member at their premises, each roundtable focuses on a specific aspect of decarbonisation, supporting companies as they shape and strengthen their road to net-zero.