Fuel Cells for Marine Vessels: Why the Time to Transition Is Now
Article by Mark Kammerer
Hydrogen fuel cells are successfully powering thousands of commercial vehicles on roads around the world. Now, thanks to their success in the heavy-duty transport sector, fuel cells are also being integrated into marine vessels.
Why?
Because fuel cells are plug-and-play zero-emission replacements for internal combustion engines. They are an essential technology that will help the marine industry address greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions on the water and in ports.
In today’s blog, you’ll learn how the marine industry is responding to calls to reduce emissions, and how fuel cells are the best-suited technology for marine applications—allowing the industry to meet its sustainability objectives.
Why does the marine industry need to commit to zero emissions?
With 90% of worldwide trade taking place by sea, the shipping industry is a huge participant in the world’s economy but also a sizable contributor to global GHG emissions.
With a worldwide commercial fleet of more than 90,000 ships, the shipping industry accounts for approximately 3% of the world’s GHG emissions. Unless action is taken soon, these impacts are forecasted to increase, due to the expected growth in global marine transport.
Additionally, the COVID-19 pandemic has had a major impact on the maritime industry. An assessment study carried out by FuelEU Maritime shows that international maritime transport was projected to be 21% lower in 2021 relative to 2020. However, the same study also foresees that the activity will increase strongly by 2025 and beyond due to the realignment and fortification of the global supply chain.
The implications are clear. There’s never been a more urgent time to adopt technologies to decarbonize the marine industry.
The pressure to meet emissions targets
The good news is, public pressure regarding climate change and air pollution has prompted organizations and governments to take action and tighten GHG emission standards in all sectors—including the maritime industry.
As a result, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has set ambitious targets to reduce vessel emissions and completely phase them out by the end of this century. The IMO’s initial strategy document stated that by the end of 2050, GHG emissions from international shipping should be at least 50% lower than what they were in 2008.
And the IMO is not the only organization taking initiative to reduce GHG emissions.
The European Maritime Safety Organization (EMSA) plans to cut the EU’s carbon dioxide emissions from maritime transport by at least 40% of 2005 levels by 2050. Furthermore, in 2018, the Norwegian parliament announced that it would make its fjords the world’s first zero-emission zones by 2026.
There’s no doubt that the maritime sector is evolving with the times. It’s becoming more sustainable by responding to the current environmental challenges and requirements. When looking at future trends that suggest an increase in sea transport, it’s clear that now is the time for fleet operators to implement proven zero-emission technologies.
With so many different types of vessels, the marine industry is in need of a true, global solution that can be applied to all vessel types in all jurisdictions.
Fuel cell technology: The most viable solution to reduce emissions
Some maritime organizations look to batteries to power the shipping sector of the future. Batteries can be a good zero-emission power solution for smaller vessels that operate with short duty cycles—small passenger ferries and lake service boats, for example. But batteries are heavy and have a relatively low power density, therefore their practicality is limited for many applications.
The best solution for marine vessels is fuel cell technology. Being a viable, true zero-emission option, fuel cells are the solution that will put the marine industry on a zero-emission path. The technology will play a big role in helping ship operators and owners reach the requirements set by the IMO and other bodies.
How do hydrogen fuel cells work?
Fuel cells generate DC power compatible with modern ship electric and hybrid architectures. Just like batteries, they produce electricity with high efficiency through an electro-chemical process. But with fuel cells, the energy carrier is the hydrogen fuel, so as long as hydrogen is available, the fuel cell power system will act as a generator to produce electricity.
