TY - JOUR
T1 - Comparative life cycle assessment of hydrogen internal combustion engine and fuel cells in shipping
AU - Amat Ventayol, Anna
AU - Lam, Jasmine Siu Lee
AU - Bai, Xiwen
AU - Chen, Zhong Shuo
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC
PY - 2025/3/14
Y1 - 2025/3/14
N2 - The vital role of the maritime sector in supporting global trade highlights the need for sustainable progress. The success of decarbonization depends on new technologies and using alternative fuels, with hydrogen showing great potential. Despite the prevalent focus on hydrogen fuel cells (H2FC) in shipping applications, the potential of onboard hydrogen internal combustion engine (H2ICE) applications remains relatively unexplored. This study endeavors to conduct a comparative life cycle assessment of the H2ICE, H2FC, and diesel engines of a passenger vessel. The findings demonstrate both hydrogen-powered systems exhibit notable environmental superiority compared to diesel engines, yielding 84–87% reductions in Global Warming Potential (GWP), 58%–73% reductions in eutrophication, 34%–52% reductions in acidification, etc. Furthermore, H2ICE presents advantages over H2FC regarding GWP and Abiotic Depletion Potential (elements and fossil). This study emphasizes the importance of extensively exploring hydrogen-powered systems for ships and their potential use in the shipping industry, highlighting the promise of H2ICE as a key contribution.
AB - The vital role of the maritime sector in supporting global trade highlights the need for sustainable progress. The success of decarbonization depends on new technologies and using alternative fuels, with hydrogen showing great potential. Despite the prevalent focus on hydrogen fuel cells (H2FC) in shipping applications, the potential of onboard hydrogen internal combustion engine (H2ICE) applications remains relatively unexplored. This study endeavors to conduct a comparative life cycle assessment of the H2ICE, H2FC, and diesel engines of a passenger vessel. The findings demonstrate both hydrogen-powered systems exhibit notable environmental superiority compared to diesel engines, yielding 84–87% reductions in Global Warming Potential (GWP), 58%–73% reductions in eutrophication, 34%–52% reductions in acidification, etc. Furthermore, H2ICE presents advantages over H2FC regarding GWP and Abiotic Depletion Potential (elements and fossil). This study emphasizes the importance of extensively exploring hydrogen-powered systems for ships and their potential use in the shipping industry, highlighting the promise of H2ICE as a key contribution.
KW - Decarbonization
KW - Hydrogen combustion engine
KW - Hydrogen fuel cells
KW - Life cycle assessment
KW - Maritime transportation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85217361834&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.02.150
DO - 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.02.150
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85217361834
SN - 0360-3199
VL - 109
SP - 774
EP - 788
JO - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
JF - International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
ER -
