Application of New Fuels in the Decarbonization of the Maritime Sector

In June 2015, for the first time in Spain, a tanker truck loaded with liquefied natural gas, LNG, was unloaded on a ferry called Abel Matutes. Since then, liquefied natural gas has been used as an alternative fuel to heavy fuel oils and diesel fuels traditionally used in the shipping sector. Currently, liquefied natural gas along with other fuels such as hydrogen or ammonia and methanol are being analysed to study their suitability as maritime fuels in a large fleet of ships.

In this study, these three types of fuels are analysed based on a series of independent characteristics to understand the current viability and real possibilities of their use in the maritime sector with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions and gaining efficiency. The study concludes with important findings that sort out its shortcomings and identify the necessary improvement path to become a real alternative that allows for the complete elimination of greenhouse gas emissions in the year 2050, as the Maritime Organization has committed to.

The objective of this paper is comparing the main features of hydrogen and ammonia and methanol as low-carbon alternative fuels compared to LNG. The lack of experience in the maritime sector has been no barrier to analyze those two well-known alternative fuels. Different approaches have been used, all independent among them to understand the applicability of each fuel.

1.- Physic and behaviors of the molecule itself.
2.- Logistics and storage
3.- Technical procedures and Personal Protective Equipment
4.- Safety
5.- Reliability
6.- Automation

We have compared up to 10 dimensions to better understand the expectation on these fuels.

As a result, LNG consolidates its leadership. However, surprisingly enough other alternative fuels score close to LNG while others seem to be excluded for the maritime sector.