Future marine fuels

Engineering Marine Engineering
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The subject of which fuel will be used by the worldwide marine industry in the future has been discussed in different threads before. Time to get it under one umbrella.
Here is first instalment; Hydrogen or Methanol:

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Hydrogen produced by renewable energy may be the marine fuel of the future:
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-08-21/cost-of-hydrogen-from-renewables-to-plummet-next-decade-bnef
Hydrogen production from renewable and fuel cells on ships are already being tested in large scale, but it may be a few years before Very Large Container Vessel (VLCV) can be powered by hydrogen and fuel cells.

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https://www.maritime-executive.com/features/norwegian-team-discovers-cheaper-way-to-make-hydrogen-fuel

I would have thought you’d be all over this story

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I missed that one. Thanks for posting it.

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No problem. It’s some pretty impressive stuff

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DNV-GL has been looking at present and future marine fuels:

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IMO requested to set up an alternative fuel research body:

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DNV-GL see plenty of uncertainty and safety problems with future marine fuels:
https://safetyatsea.net/news/2019/uncertainty-and-safety-concerns-abound-for-future-fuels-says-dnv-gl/?utm_campaign=CL_SAS_Newswire1_20190924_SAS_e-production_E-45048_GT_0924_0400&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Eloqua

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Fuel cells for propulsion does not need to be hydrogen powered:
https://worldmaritimenews.com/archives/283855/samsung-heavy-bloom-energy-to-develop-fuel-cell-powered-ships/
But does that mean that greenhouse gas emission is fully eliminated, or just reduced??
No it does not, but it reduces emission by 45% and virtually eliminate particle and SOX, NOX emission.

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Havila has taken steps to sign contract for hydrogen propulsion system to be used on larger ships than projected so far:

It appears that hydrogen is the flavour of the month in Norwegian shipping:

Google translated from Sysla Newsletter today:

And here is how the hydrogen to power the ships will be produced:

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Norway going for Ammonia and Hydrogen as future clean fuel for shipping and other users of fossil fuel:

But they are not alone. Both EU and Britain are looking at the same as the solution for a low emission society before 2050.

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Hydrogen fuel cells for large Container ships is under development:


It will still take a while before the first mega ship powered only by hydrogen will be crossing the wold’s ocean, but it is a step closer to that reality.

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It’s not exactly a magic bullet cure for NOx emissions. Hydrogen alone in a diesel does not appreciably lower NOx production, adding ammonia to the mix does but the level of complication becomes much greater.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/332175407_NOx_Reduction_in_Diesel-Hydrogen_Engines_Using_Different_Strategies_of_Ammonia_Injection

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No Hydrogen used as fuel in a diesel engine is not, even if the hydrogen is produced using renewable none-GHG energy source.

But if the hydrogen is used to power fuel cells, it is a Zero pollution solution.

PS> Ammonia can be used in a diesel engine w/o too much complication. (I believe??)
If the ammonia is produced by using renewable energy, or other none-GHG method, it is also a good none-polluting/GHG solution for large ships.

PPS> Lots of different ideas are offere, but nobody seriously believe that batteries are a solution by itself. (As buffer storage yes)

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Well that may change if we are talking about Nuclear Batteries:

PS> Of course small Coastal/Short Sea Ship can, and/or will be powered by conventional batteries in many parts of the world:

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And where does ammonia come from?

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Ammonia and hydrogen is also made using renewable energy, but you conveniently forgot to notice that part of my post:

BTW; Nitrogen, Ammonia and Hydrogen has been produced using hydro electric power since the Birkeland-Eyde Process was invented in 1905, so this is nothing new:
Norsk Hydro Rjukan - Wikipedia.

PS> The factory in Rjukan, Norway also produced Heavy Water as a by-product, which became very important during WWII. The action to sabotage the production facility and sink the ferry that carried the stored Heavy Water bound for Germany was maybe the most decisive single operations during WWII:

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Today Ammonia and Hydrogen is also made using Solar and Wind power:
https://www.cleantech.com/green-ammonia-potential-as-an-energy-carrier-and-beyond/

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Hydrogen produced by wind power being tested:

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The discussion on “Marine fuel of the future” appears to crystallize around Methanol and Ammonia, while my favourit, Hydrogen is loosing the race.

Ammonia fueled Aframax design AIP by Lloyds:

In the EU the discussion continue: