Assessing the Viability of Advanced Propulsion Technologies and Sustainable Fuels in Carbon-Free Marine Transportation

The present research examines the possibility of renewable fuels to displace fossil fuels for different maritime propulsion systems. The first step is to do a fuel cost evaluation for various bio-electro fuels, and electro fuels, as well as liquid hydrogen and electricity, in separate fuel production paths. The total cost of ownership for four different types of ships—large ferries, general cargo, bulk carriers, and container vessels—is then calculated by adding the expenses associated with producing fuel in different operational rate. and distance at sea, propulsion costs, on-board fuel storage costs, and a cost associated with reduced cargo capacity. These nominated fuels are used across a range of distances with internal combustion engines, fuel cells, or battery-powered propulsion systems.With the exception of biofuels, battery-electric propulsion is a more cost-effective choice for larger ferries. In the case of other types of ships, fuel cells become a viable option due to their enhanced efficiency and the availability of more expensive fuels like electro fuels. Internal combustion engines prove advantageous in instances of limited operation days, whereas fuel cells tend to be more advantageous when there are higher operation days. For general cargo vessels, both four-stroke internal combustion engines and fuel cells have a similar total cost of ownership. Although the efficiency of two-stroke engines used in bulk carriers and container ships is comparable to that of fuel cells, internal combustion engines remain the more affordable option, unless there's an increase in the efficiency or capital cost of fuel cells.

Keywords:

Internal combustion engines , renewable fuel cost , fuel cells , battery , propulsion systems , ships