Hydrogen as marine fuel – feasibility, prospects, and challenges

• Main Author: Wong, Li Ming
• Other Authors: -
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: Nanyang Technological University 2022
• Subjects: Engineering::Maritime studies; Engineering::Environmental engineering::Environmental pollution
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/163666
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The maritime industry is responsible for almost 90% of world trade volume, contributing to the global economic growth. Shipping emissions remain as a serious concern in the maritime industry. The maritime industry currently accounts for at least 2.5% of the overall CO2 emissions. As the maritime industry strives to achieve decarbonisation to comply with IMO 2050, many alternative fuels are being researched and hydrogen is included. The objective of this paper is to evaluate the feasibility, prospect, and challenges of hydrogen as marine fuel by analysing the constraints of hydrogen adoption. This paper also aims to provide a better understanding on IMO’s efforts towards decarbonisation and the development of hydrogen as marine fuel. To understand the constraints of hydrogen adoption, surveys and interviews were conducted to obtain two different sets of data to analyse and provide findings that are consistent and credible. To ensure a better understanding of hydrogen in the maritime industry, various maritime professionals were approached even though hydrogen might not be their expertise. This ensures that current situation and the progress of different stakeholders in the maritime industry in terms of IMO 2050 can be analysed and the use of alternative fuels can be gathered for comparison. Secondary data consisting of scholarly articles served as cross references to support the argument and analysis of this paper. Upon analysis of the data collected, the study has found the key reasons why hydrogen is not yet recognised in the maritime industry. Safety of hydrogen fuel is one most important concern due to its high flammability and the lack of hydrogen infrastructure for production, storing and bunkering. A lack of regulations for stakeholders in the maritime industry is also another reason why hydrogen is not so recognised in the maritime industry as stakeholders do not know how to move forward using hydrogen as marine fuel. To work towards IMO 2050 or even decarbonisation, the author has recommended what various key players could do. Some of the recommendations include imposing carbon tax, implementing regulations and educating the price of sustainability. This ensures that all stakeholders in the maritime industry play their role and work towards decarbonisation.