EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF FUTURE ALTERNATIVE FUELS ON NAVAL VESSELS

Abstract

Emissions regulation aimed at reducing air pollution, particularly carbon dioxide emissions, is driving commercial research into alternative fuels such as ammonia, methanol and hydrogen. Whilst naval ships, being government owned vessels, are exempt from this regulation, the ability to operate on such fuels may become a requirement for future combatants. This paper describes an ongoing study to examine the impact of alternative fuels over a range of naval vessel designs and sizes, using the ZEOLIT early-stage ship tool. The initial stage has examined an OPV, as this is a relatively simple type of vessel, which has already seen the adoption of dual fuelling with LNG in some navies. Three future fuels have been investigated: methanol, ammonia and a Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carrier. The findings so far indicate that, for an OPV, these fuels lead to an increase in displacement, but not one that would render the ship impractically large.