Hydrogen as marine fuel – feasibility, prospects, and challenges

• Main Author: Tan, Helen Zhi Ying
• Other Authors: -
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2022
• Subjects: Engineering::Maritime studies
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/163664
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The maritime industry is liable for more than 80% of the world trade capacity (TAPA, 2021). Similar to all other modes of transport, fossil fuels are widely used, and they are the main cause of climate change and global warming. Carbon emission levels for the marine industry are at least 2 to 3% of the world’s emissions, making it the 6th largest Carbon dioxide, CO2 emitter (Schlanger, 2018). The expertise projects that by 2050 maritime industry is estimated to have carbon emission levels as high as 17% of the total CO2 emissions (TAPA, 2021). With the growing concern of climate change, IMO came up with the IMO 2050 goal of achieving at least 50% reduced emissions by the year 2050. This made it obligatory for the marine industry to source alternative fuels that would potentially mitigate the carbon emission issue and decarbonize. In order to understand the feasibility, prospect and challenges of using hydrogen as a marine fuel, primary and secondary data were collected to ensure that the data collected is consistent. Primary data consist of literature from various sources and survey questionnaires and Secondary data consist of interviews with various maritime experts and researchers. Despite the majority of the interviewees not being hydrogen experts involved, the insights gained from our interviews gave us a clearer image of hydrogen can work towards being adopted as the new alternative fuel. With the valuable insights gathered, this paper will be focusing on the analysis of the production, storage, and availability of hydrogen fuels. It is essential to know the underlying factors that may hinder the decision of hydrogen adopters early in order to prepare the maritime industry for the smooth transition towards hydrogen marine fuel.