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Decarbonizing Maritime Transport: The Importance of Engine Technology and Regulations for LNG to Serve as a Transition Fuel

Author

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  • Elizabeth Lindstad

    (SINTEF Ocean, Marine Technology Centre, 7465 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Gunnar S. Eskeland

    (Business and Management Science, Norwegian School of Economics (NHH), 5045 Bergen, Norway)

  • Agathe Rialland

    (SINTEF Ocean, Marine Technology Centre, 7465 Trondheim, Norway)

  • Anders Valland

    (SINTEF Ocean, Marine Technology Centre, 7465 Trondheim, Norway)

Abstract

Current Greenhous gas emissions (GHG) from maritime transport represent around 3% of global anthropogenic GHG emissions and will have to be cut in half by 2050 to meet Paris agreement goals. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is by many seen as a potential transition fuel for decarbonizing shipping. Its favorable hydrogen to carbon ratio compared to diesel (marine gas oil, MGO) or bunker fuel (heavy fuel oil, HFO) translates directly into lower carbon emissions per kilowatt produced. However, these gains may be nullified once one includes the higher Well-to-tank emissions (WTT) of the LNG supply chain and the vessel’s un-combusted methane slip (CH 4 ) from its combustion engine. Previous studies have tended to focus either on greenhouse gas emissions from LNG in a Well-to-wake (WTW) perspective, or on alternative engine technologies and their impact on the vessel’s Tank-to-wake emissions (TTW). This study investigates under what conditions LNG can serve as a transition fuel in the decarbonization of maritime transport, while ensuring the lowest possible additional global warming impact. Transition refers to the process of moving away from fossil fuels towards new and low carbon fuels and engine technologies. Our results show: First, the importance of applying appropriate engine technologies to maximize GHG reductions; Second, that applying best engine technologies is not economically profitable; Third, how regulations could be amended to reward best engine technologies. Importantly, while the GHG reduction of LNG even with best engine technology (dual fuel diesel engine) are limited, ships with these engines can with economically modest modification switch to ammonia produced with renewable energy when it becomes available in sufficient amounts.

Suggested Citation

  • Elizabeth Lindstad & Gunnar S. Eskeland & Agathe Rialland & Anders Valland, 2020. "Decarbonizing Maritime Transport: The Importance of Engine Technology and Regulations for LNG to Serve as a Transition Fuel," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-21, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:21:p:8793-:d:433366
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

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    2. Nizar, Irfan & Amarasena, Sudath Manjula & Priyantha Lalanie, P., 2025. "Steering towards carbon neutral transportation practices: A comprehensive analysis of the challenges confronting the shipping industry in Sri Lanka," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    3. Sofiane Laribi & Emmanuel Guy, 2020. "Promoting LNG as A Marine Fuel in Norway: Reflections on the Role of Global Regulations on Local Transition Niches," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(22), pages 1-17, November.
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    5. Johannes Full & Steffen Merseburg & Robert Miehe & Alexander Sauer, 2021. "A New Perspective for Climate Change Mitigation—Introducing Carbon-Negative Hydrogen Production from Biomass with Carbon Capture and Storage (HyBECCS)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-22, April.
    6. Seyedeh Azadeh Alavi-Borazjani & Shahzada Adeel & Valentina Chkoniya & Luís A. C. Tarelho, 2025. "Sustainability-Oriented Port Management: Biomass Gasification as a Strategic Tool for Green and Circular Maritime Logistics," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-32, March.
    7. Seyedeh Azadeh Alavi-Borazjani & Shahzada Adeel & Valentina Chkoniya, 2025. "Hydrogen as a Sustainable Fuel: Transforming Maritime Logistics," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-36, March.
    8. Łukasz Warguła & Mateusz Kukla & Piotr Lijewski & Michał Dobrzyński & Filip Markiewicz, 2020. "Impact of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Fuel Systems in Small Engine Wood Chippers on Exhaust Emissions and Fuel Consumption," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-21, December.
    9. Murat Bayraktar & Mahmut Mollaoglu & Onur Yuksel, 2025. "Scientometric Analysis of Energy Efficiency Indicators in Maritime Transportation: A Systematic State-of-the-Art Review and Implications," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-43, April.
    10. Xinjia Gao & Aoshuang Zhu & Qifeng Yu, 2023. "Exploring the Carbon Abatement Strategies in Shipping Using System Dynamics Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(18), pages 1-25, September.
    11. Monica Grosso & Fabio Luis Marques dos Santos & Konstantinos Gkoumas & Marcin Stępniak & Ferenc Pekár, 2021. "The Role of Research and Innovation in Europe for the Decarbonisation of Waterborne Transport," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-21, September.
    12. Dahye Sung & Wongwan Jung & Jungho Choi, 2024. "Multi Stage Organic Rankine Cycle Using Boil-Off Gas on Liquefied Hydrogen Carrier," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(24), pages 1-13, December.
    13. Vinicius Andrade dos Santos & Patrícia Pereira da Silva & Luís Manuel Ventura Serrano, 2022. "The Maritime Sector and Its Problematic Decarbonization: A Systematic Review of the Contribution of Alternative Fuels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(10), pages 1-30, May.
    14. Md Arman Arefin & Md Nurun Nabi & Md Washim Akram & Mohammad Towhidul Islam & Md Wahid Chowdhury, 2020. "A Review on Liquefied Natural Gas as Fuels for Dual Fuel Engines: Opportunities, Challenges and Responses," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-19, November.
    15. Kim, Jun-Soo & Choi, Jae-Hyuk, 2023. "Feasibility study on bio-heavy fuel as an alternative for marine fuel," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(P2).
    16. Wenwen Li & Zhengliang Hu & Xinqiang Chen, 2025. "Governmental Functions in Establishing Alternative Marine Fuel Supply Chains in Shipping Decarbonization Governance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-30, March.
    17. Saleh Aseel & Hussein Al-Yafei & Murat Kucukvar & Nuri C. Onat, 2021. "Life Cycle Air Emissions and Social Human Health Impact Assessment of Liquified Natural Gas Maritime Transport," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-19, September.
    18. Magdalena Klopott & Marzenna Popek & Ilona Urbanyi-Popiołek, 2023. "Seaports’ Role in Ensuring the Availability of Alternative Marine Fuels—A Multi-Faceted Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(7), pages 1-30, March.
    19. Janmanuel Jaramillo & Joaquín Gutiérrez & Yunesky Masip Macia, 2025. "Comparative Analysis of Carbon Intensity Indicators Applicable to Harbor Tugboats," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(4), pages 1-20, February.
    20. 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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