Decarbonizing Bulk Carriers With Hydrogen Fuel Cells and Wind-Assisted Propulsion: A Modeled Case Study Analysis
The potential for liquid hydrogen (LH₂) fuel cells to replace fossil fuels in container ships, and also the potential of rotor sails for reducing energy consumption and exhaust gases, has been shown by recent research by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT). The technologies can be combined to create zero-emission vessels (ZEVs) and are suitable for bulk carriers because such vessels have the onboard space for storage of fuel cells and hydrogen fuels, and the deck space for rotor sails. To examine how LH₂ or compressed hydrogen (CH₂) fuel cells can replace fossil fuels for bulk carriers, the authors investigated three vessels of different sizes: a 57,000 deadweight tonne (dwt) dry bulk carrier on the coast of China; a 69,000 dwt ore and coal carrier on the North American Great Lakes; and a 7,570 dwt cement carrier on the North Sea and Baltic Sea in Europe. Using ship traffic data and weather data from 2019, the authors estimated the ships’ energy use and the potential energy savings from rotor sails on two routes for each ship. The two larger ships could complete their routes using LH₂ alone. The smallest bulk carrier does not have as much space for LH₂, but additional distance can be achieved by using rotor sails in combination with LH₂, and by replacing 2.4% of cargo space with LH₂ in combination with four rotor sails on the two longest routes. Rotor sails reduce fuel consumption and energy costs and can be installed on existing ships and new ships, including hybrids and ZEVs.
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- Summary URL:
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Corporate Authors:
International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT)
1500 K Street NW, Suite 650
Washington, DC United States 20005Heising-Simons Foundation
Los Altos, CA United States 94022Cross Product Atmospheric LLC
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Authors:
- Comer, Bryan
- Georgeff, Elise
- Stolz, Douglas
- Mao, Xiaoli
- Osipova, Liudmila
- Publication Date: 2022-1
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Edition: White Paper
- Features: Appendices; Figures; Maps; Photos; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 39p
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Bulk carriers; Energy consumption; Fuel cells; Liquid hydrogen; Propulsion; Sails
- Subject Areas: Energy; Freight Transportation; Marine Transportation;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01837607
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS
- Created Date: Feb 28 2022 9:40AM