IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/enepol/v87y2015icp153-167.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Natural gas as a marine fuel

Author

Listed:
  • Thomson, Heather
  • Corbett, James J.
  • Winebrake, James J.

Abstract

This paper provides new knowledge about the life-cycle emissions of natural gas compared to traditional petroleum-based fuels in the marine sector. While natural gas will reduce local air pollutants, such as sulfur oxides and particulate matter, the implications for greenhouse gases depend on how the natural gas is extracted, processed, distributed, and used. Applying a “technology warming potential” (TWP) approach, natural gas as a marine fuel achieves climate parity within 30 years for diesel ignited engines, though could take up to 190 years to reach climate parity with conventional fuels in a spark ignited engine. Movement towards natural gas as a marine fuel continues to progress, and conditions exist in some regions to make a near-term transition to natural gas feasible. Liquefied natural gas in marine transportation is likely to be incentivized where economics favoring natural gas is coupled with air emissions public policy targets. To ensure that climate neutral conversion is achieved with the least delay, TWP results highlight the important role of energy policy for infrastructure development of upstream pathways and onboard ship systems technology innovation.

Suggested Citation

  • Thomson, Heather & Corbett, James J. & Winebrake, James J., 2015. "Natural gas as a marine fuel," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(C), pages 153-167.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:87:y:2015:i:c:p:153-167
    DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2015.08.027
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0301421515300665
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.enpol.2015.08.027?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to

    for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Farrell, Alexander E. & Keith, David W. & Corbett, James J., 2003. "A strategy for introducing hydrogen into transportation," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(13), pages 1357-1367, October.
    2. Moura, Maria Cecilia P. & Branco, David A. Castelo & Peters, Glen P. & Szklo, Alexandre Salem & Schaeffer, Roberto, 2013. "How the choice of multi-gas equivalency metrics affects mitigation options: The case of CO2 capture in a Brazilian coal-fired power plant," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 1357-1366.
    3. Shen, Wei & Han, Weijian & Chock, David & Chai, Qinhu & Zhang, Aling, 2012. "Well-to-wheels life-cycle analysis of alternative fuels and vehicle technologies in China," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 49(C), pages 296-307.
    4. Mark G. Lawrence & Paul J. Crutzen, 1999. "Influence of NOx emissions from ships on tropospheric photochemistry and climate," Nature, Nature, vol. 402(6758), pages 167-170, November.
    5. repec:cdl:itsdav:qt8ng2h3x7 is not listed on IDEAS
    6. repec:cdl:itsdav:qt5245b5kx is not listed on IDEAS
    7. Boucher, O. & Reddy, M.S., 2008. "Climate trade-off between black carbon and carbon dioxide emissions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 193-200, January.
    8. repec:cdl:itsdav:qt6j67z9w6 is not listed on IDEAS
    9. Arteconi, A. & Brandoni, C. & Evangelista, D. & Polonara, F., 2010. "Life-cycle greenhouse gas analysis of LNG as a heavy vehicle fuel in Europe," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 87(6), pages 2005-2013, June.
    10. Kevin Capaldo & James J. Corbett & Prasad Kasibhatla & Paul Fischbeck & Spyros N. Pandis, 1999. "Effects of ship emissions on sulphur cycling and radiative climate forcing over the ocean," Nature, Nature, vol. 400(6746), pages 743-746, August.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Park, Chybyung & Jeong, Byongug & Zhou, Peilin, 2022. "Lifecycle energy solution of the electric propulsion ship with Live-Life cycle assessment for clean maritime economy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 328(C).
    2. Song, Hongqing & Ou, Xunmin & Yuan, Jiehui & Yu, Mingxu & Wang, Cheng, 2017. "Energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions of diesel/LNG heavy-duty vehicle fleets in China based on a bottom-up model analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(P1), pages 966-978.
    3. Yuan, Zhiyi & Ou, Xunmin & Peng, Tianduo & Yan, Xiaoyu, 2019. "Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions of multi-pathways natural gas vehicles in china considering methane leakage," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C), pages 1-1.
    4. Li, Weiqi & Dai, Yaping & Ma, Linwei & Hao, Han & Lu, Haiyan & Albinson, Rosemary & Li, Zheng, 2015. "Oil-saving pathways until 2030 for road freight transportation in China based on a cost-optimization model," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 86(C), pages 369-384.
    5. Konstantina Peloriadi & Petros Iliadis & Panagiotis Boutikos & Konstantinos Atsonios & Panagiotis Grammelis & Aristeidis Nikolopoulos, 2022. "Technoeconomic Assessment of LNG-Fueled Solid Oxide Fuel Cells in Small Island Systems: The Patmos Island Case Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-20, May.
    6. Roel M. Post & Paul Buijs & Michiel A. J. uit het Broek & Jose A. Lopez Alvarez & Nick B. Szirbik & Iris F. A. Vis, 2018. "A solution approach for deriving alternative fuel station infrastructure requirements," Flexible Services and Manufacturing Journal, Springer, vol. 30(3), pages 592-607, September.
    7. Malça, João & Coelho, António & Freire, Fausto, 2014. "Environmental life-cycle assessment of rapeseed-based biodiesel: Alternative cultivation systems and locations," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 837-844.
    8. Odette Deuber & Gunnar Luderer & Robert Sausen, 2014. "CO 2 equivalences for short-lived climate forcers," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 122(4), pages 651-664, February.
    9. Orsi, Francesco & Muratori, Matteo & Rocco, Matteo & Colombo, Emanuela & Rizzoni, Giorgio, 2016. "A multi-dimensional well-to-wheels analysis of passenger vehicles in different regions: Primary energy consumption, CO2 emissions, and economic cost," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 169(C), pages 197-209.
    10. Vladimír Hönig & Petr Prochazka & Michal Obergruber & Luboš Smutka & Viera Kučerová, 2019. "Economic and Technological Analysis of Commercial LNG Production in the EU," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-17, April.
    11. Ding, Yanjun & Han, Weijian & Chai, Qinhu & Yang, Shuhong & Shen, Wei, 2013. "Coal-based synthetic natural gas (SNG): A solution to China’s energy security and CO2 reduction?," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 445-453.
    12. Bidart, Christian & Wichert, Martin & Kolb, Gunther & Held, Michael, 2022. "Biogas catalytic methanation for biomethane production as fuel in freight transport - A carbon footprint assessment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 168(C).
    13. Imran Khan, Muhammad, 2017. "Policy options for the sustainable development of natural gas as transportation fuel," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 110(C), pages 126-136.
    14. Augusto Mussi Alvim & Eduardo Rodrigues Sanguinet, 2021. "Climate Change Policies and the Carbon Tax Effect on Meat and Dairy Industries in Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(16), pages 1-20, August.
    15. Moura, Maria Cecilia P. & Branco, David A. Castelo & Peters, Glen P. & Szklo, Alexandre Salem & Schaeffer, Roberto, 2013. "How the choice of multi-gas equivalency metrics affects mitigation options: The case of CO2 capture in a Brazilian coal-fired power plant," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 1357-1366.
    16. José-Luis Cruz & Esteban Rossi-Hansberg, 2024. "The Economic Geography of Global Warming," The Review of Economic Studies, Review of Economic Studies Ltd, vol. 91(2), pages 899-939.
    17. Su, Meirong & Pauleit, Stephan & Yin, Xuemei & Zheng, Ying & Chen, Shaoqing & Xu, Chao, 2016. "Greenhouse gas emission accounting for EU member states from 1991 to 2012," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 759-768.
    18. Kumar, Satish & Kwon, Hyouk-Tae & Choi, Kwang-Ho & Lim, Wonsub & Cho, Jae Hyun & Tak, Kyungjae & Moon, Il, 2011. "LNG: An eco-friendly cryogenic fuel for sustainable development," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 88(12), pages 4264-4273.
    19. Morgan R. Edwards & Jessika E. Trancik, 2022. "Consequences of equivalency metric design for energy transitions and climate change," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 175(1), pages 1-27, November.
    20. Sergejus Lebedevas & Saugirdas Pukalskas & Vygintas Daukšys & Alfredas Rimkus & Mindaugas Melaika & Linas Jonika, 2019. "Research on Fuel Efficiency and Emissions of Converted Diesel Engine with Conventional Fuel Injection System for Operation on Natural Gas," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-32, June.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:enepol:v:87:y:2015:i:c:p:153-167. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/enpol .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.