Alternative marine energy carrier impact on ship powering and the environment

Alternative marine energy carrier impact on ship powering and the environment: A comparative conceptual LCA of the operational stage of ship types with alternative marine energy carriers

Snaathorst, Andrew (TU Delft Mechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineering)

Pruyn, J.F.J. (mentor)
Bot, A.J.T.H. (mentor)

Delft University of Technology

Marine Technology | Maritime Operations and Management

2023-01-23

This thesis investigates the total environmental impact of various alternative marine energy carriers while taking the powering increase into account due to their disadvantageous spatial requirements compared to conventional fuel. A parametric design tool for bulk carriers, tankers, container ships, and trailing suction hopper dredgers has been developed for the future marine energy carriers to determine the total installed engine power increase. A more environmentally friendly energy carrier can be overturned because the total installed engine power increase is proportionate to the energy consumption increase. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) has been performed on fuel oil, methanol, LNG, liquid hydrogen, ammonia, and batteries for the conventional and a bio/renewable version of their well-to-wake pathway. The powering impact results indicate that all ship type and energy carrier combinations require a higher total installed main engine power and consequently a higher energy carrier consumption. The total environmental impact results indicate that only renewable liquid hydrogen and renewable ammonia have less adverse effects on global warming, and cause less damage to human health, ecosystems, and natural resource availability.

Ship design
Powering impact
Alternative fuels
Alternative energy carriers
Environmental impact
Life cycle assessment (LCA)

http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:cc64addb-aeb4-42ca-b4a8-746151306174

Student theses

master thesis

© 2023 Andrew Snaathorst