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The Potential Role of Ammonia as Marine Fuel—Based on Energy Systems Modeling and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis

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  • Julia Hansson

    (Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, Maritime Environmental Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden
    Sustainable Society, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Box 530 21, SE-400 14 Gothenburg, Sweden)

  • Selma Brynolf

    (Department of Mechanics and Maritime Sciences, Maritime Environmental Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden)

  • Erik Fridell

    (Sustainable Society, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Box 530 21, SE-400 14 Gothenburg, Sweden)

  • Mariliis Lehtveer

    (Department of Space, Earth and Environment, Energy Technology, Chalmers University of Technology, SE-412 96 Gothenburg, Sweden)

Abstract

To reduce the climate impact of shipping, the introduction of alternative fuels is required. There is a range of different marine fuel options but ammonia, a potential zero carbon fuel, has recently received a lot of attention. The purpose of this paper is to assess the prospects for ammonia as a future fuel for the shipping sector in relation to other marine fuels. The assessment is based on a synthesis of knowledge in combination with: (i) energy systems modeling including the cost-effectiveness of ammonia as marine fuel in relation to other fuels for reaching global climate targets; and (ii) a multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA) approach ranking marine fuel options while considering estimated fuel performance and the importance of criteria based on maritime stakeholder preferences. In the long-term and to reach global GHG reduction, the energy systems modeled indicate that the use of hydrogen represents a more cost-effective marine fuel option than ammonia. However, in the MCDA covering more aspects, we find that ammonia may be almost as interesting for shipping related stakeholders as hydrogen and various biomass-based fuels. Ammonia may to some extent be an interesting future marine fuel option, but many issues remain to be solved before large-scale introduction.

Suggested Citation

  • Julia Hansson & Selma Brynolf & Erik Fridell & Mariliis Lehtveer, 2020. "The Potential Role of Ammonia as Marine Fuel—Based on Energy Systems Modeling and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-20, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:8:p:3265-:d:346692
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    2. Bilgili, Levent, 2023. "A systematic review on the acceptance of alternative marine fuels," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 182(C).
    3. Iva Ridjan Skov & Noémi Schneider & Gerald Schweiger & Josef-Peter Schöggl & Alfred Posch, 2021. "Power-to-X in Denmark: An Analysis of Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-14, February.
    4. Thomas Buckley Imhoff & Savvas Gkantonas & Epaminondas Mastorakos, 2021. "Analysing the Performance of Ammonia Powertrains in the Marine Environment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-41, November.
    5. 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.
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    7. Perčić, Maja & Vladimir, Nikola & Jovanović, Ivana & Koričan, Marija, 2022. "Application of fuel cells with zero-carbon fuels in short-sea shipping," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 309(C).
    8. Eleni Strantzali & Georgios A. Livanos & Konstantinos Aravossis, 2023. "A Comprehensive Multicriteria Evaluation Approach for Alternative Marine Fuels," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-21, November.
    9. Srivastava, Vivek & Schaub, Joschka & Pischinger, Stefan, 2023. "Model-based closed-loop control strategies for flex-fuel capability," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 350(C).
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