Alternative marine fuels for sustainable and cost-efficient shipping

With the global population projected to reach nearly 10 billion by 2050, the demand for animal products is expected to rise significantly. A less recognized source of emissions in this supply chain is livestock maritime transport, which moves millions of animals worldwide and emits large amounts of CO2 and other pollutants. This study focuses on reducing the environmental impact of ships through cleaner fuels, efficient routing, and improved onboard power systems. Ship emissions pose a significant global challenge due to their detrimental impact on the environment, especially in terms of contributing to atmospheric global warming. To address this, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has prioritized environmental protection, aiming to cut exhaust emissions by at least 50% by the year 2050. One of the key strategies proposed by the IMO is the adoption of alternative marine fuels, such as natural gas and methanol, in place of traditional fossil fuels. This paper presents a comparative analysis of converting conventional diesel engines into dual-fuel engines that run on either methanol or natural gas. The study focuses on the economic aspects of both the natural gas and methanol dual-fuel systems. According to the findings, the use of natural gas results in cost savings of 275.546/ton for NOx, 11,358.610/ton for SOx, 29.0853/ton for CO2, and 8,518.962/ton for CO. In comparison, methanol offers cost reductions of 362.687/ton for NOx, 14,638.436/ton for SOx, 12.736/ton for CO2, and 6,127.717/ton for CO. The study underscores the environmental and economic advantages of using natural gas and methanol as cleaner alternatives in the maritime sector. The results indicate that adopting these fuels could significantly lower emissions from ships and support broader global sustainability goals.

Duke Scholars

Author Mai ElMallah Pediatrics, Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine