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Environmental and Economic Evaluation of Fuel Choices for Short Sea Shipping

Author

Listed:
  • Kirsi Spoof-Tuomi

    (School of Technology and Innovations, University of Vaasa, P.O. Box 700, 65101 Vaasa, Finland)

  • Seppo Niemi

    (School of Technology and Innovations, University of Vaasa, P.O. Box 700, 65101 Vaasa, Finland)

Abstract

The shipping industry is looking for strategies to comply with increasingly stringent emission regulations. Fuel has a significant impact on emissions, so a switch to alternative fuels needs to be evaluated. This study investigated the emission performances of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquefied biogas (LBG) in shipping and compared them to conventional marine diesel oil (MDO) combined with selective catalytic reduction (SCR). For assessing the complete global warming potential of these fuels, the life-cycle approach was used. In addition, the study evaluated the local environmental impacts of combustion of these fuels, which is of particular importance for short sea shipping operations near coastal marine environment and residential areas. All three options examined are in compliance with the most stringent emission control area (ECA) regulations currently in force or entering into force from 2021. In terms of local environmental impacts, the two gaseous fuels had clear advantages over the MDO + SCR combination. However, the use of LNG as marine fuel achieved no significant CO 2 -equivalent reduction, thus making little progress towards the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO’s) visions of decarbonizing shipping. Major life cycle GHG emission benefits were identified by replacing fossil fuels with LBG. The most significant challenge facing LBG today is fuel availability in volumes needed for shipping. Without taxation or subsidies, LBG may also find it difficult to compete with the prices of fossil fuels.

Suggested Citation

  • Kirsi Spoof-Tuomi & Seppo Niemi, 2020. "Environmental and Economic Evaluation of Fuel Choices for Short Sea Shipping," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 2(1), pages 1-19, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jcltec:v:2:y:2020:i:1:p:4-52:d:312024
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thomson, Heather & Corbett, James J. & Winebrake, James J., 2015. "Natural gas as a marine fuel," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 153-167.
    2. Burel, Fabio & Taccani, Rodolfo & Zuliani, Nicola, 2013. "Improving sustainability of maritime transport through utilization of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) for propulsion," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 412-420.
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    Cited by:

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    4. Alam Md Moshiul & Roslina Mohammad & Fariha Anjum Hira, 2023. "Alternative Fuel Selection Framework toward Decarbonizing Maritime Deep-Sea Shipping," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-37, March.

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