The Transition to Alternative Fuels in the Maritime Sector in the Context of Decarbonization: Opportunities and Constraints

Abstract

Alternative fuels can facilitate the green transition of the maritime sector over time, but there are constraints regarding the production capacity for the existing demand and the need to re-engineer the ships. This paper aims to analyze the types of alternative fuels currently available compatible with the maritime sector and the advantages and disadvantages they come with as well as the forecast of their use over time. In the context of current alternative technologies available, the alternative fuels analyzed in this paper are bio-fuels, electrofuels like e-hydrogen, e-ammonia and e-methanol, and electricity. The most reliable alternative solutions to conventional fuels in the maritime sector are concluded to be ammonia and hydrogen, while biofuels and renewable energy technologies are additionally used. The main challenges regarding the use of these fuels relate to infrastructure, safety, personnel training, costs and storage.