Comparative life cycle assessment of hydrogen internal combustion engine and fuel cells in shipping

Anna Amat Ventayol; Jasmine Siu Lee Lam; Xiwen Bai; Zhong Shuo Chen

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.02.150

Comparative life cycle assessment of hydrogen internal combustion engine and fuel cells in shipping

Anna Amat Ventayol
, Jasmine Siu Lee Lam
, Xiwen Bai^*
, Zhong Shuo Chen^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

School of Intelligent Finance and Business

Tsinghua University
Technical University of Denmark

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

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.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	774-788
Number of pages	15
Journal	International Journal of Hydrogen Energy
Volume	109
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.02.150
Publication status	Published - 14 Mar 2025

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Keywords

Decarbonization
Hydrogen combustion engine
Hydrogen fuel cells
Life cycle assessment
Maritime transportation

Access to Document

10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.02.150

Cite this

@article{7449b7d3a3ec4c9d999ff3ecb702fddb,

title = "Comparative life cycle assessment of hydrogen internal combustion engine and fuel cells in shipping",

abstract = "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.",

keywords = "Decarbonization, Hydrogen combustion engine, Hydrogen fuel cells, Life cycle assessment, Maritime transportation",

author = "\{Amat Ventayol\}, Anna and Lam, \{Jasmine Siu Lee\} and Xiwen Bai and Chen, \{Zhong Shuo\}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2025 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC",

year = "2025",

month = mar,

day = "14",

doi = "10.1016/j.ijhydene.2025.02.150",

language = "English",

volume = "109",

pages = "774--788",

journal = "International Journal of Hydrogen Energy",

issn = "0360-3199",

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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

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 - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85217361834

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 -

Comparative life cycle assessment of hydrogen internal combustion engine and fuel cells in shipping

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

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Feasibility study of hydrogen fuel in marine vessel applications under the decarbonisation background

Cite this

Comparative life cycle assessment of hydrogen internal combustion engine and fuel cells in shipping

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

Feasibility study of hydrogen fuel in marine vessel applications under the decarbonisation background

Cite this