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DNV GL has released a position paper that presents a methodology for evaluating alternative fuels, adding sustainability and safety considerations in the discussion.

'The Fuel Trilemma: Next Generation of Marine Fuels' looks at the rapidly diversifying fuel market from the perspective of affordability, sustainability and safety. According to DNV GL, these three factors will govern the importance of any energy source chosen to meet regulatory requirements for carbon dioxide (CO2), sulphur oxide (SOx) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) - requirements that the company says are already pushing the limits of what can be achieved with conventional fuels and exhaust gas cleaning technology.

"A growing diversity of fuel options has seen LNG becoming well established and opened some potential for biofuels to gradually replace fossil fuels. Electricity from the grid, methanol and hydrogen have their place for certain geographic areas and ship types, too," said DNV GL in a statement.

Christos Chryssakis, Senior Researcher at DNV GL, remarked: "In all cases, the cost associated with machinery, as well as the expected fuel price, will play a dominant role for shipowners as they make changes to their fleet. However, safety and sustainability have an impact on affordability. Sustainability, assessed from a lifecycle perspective, will determine the availability of various fuels in the future, and could constrain the energy mix locally or globally.

"Novel design solutions may introduce a level of complexity that affects newbuilding costs and operational reliability. Even well-known solutions such as LNG involve considerable ship design and equipment changes to ensure safe operation."

DNV GL points out that there are also external risks to be considered. A major accident could turn regulators and the general public against an otherwise promising fuel option, the company says.

Chryssakis added: "DNV GL advocates that the risks are manageable. One of the premises is that safety should head the agenda from the very beginning of a ship design project."

The position paper analyses affordability, sustainability, safety and reliability and includes case studies involving LNG, shore-based electricity, biofuels (including pyrolysis oil and biomethanol) and hydrogen. It presents the benefits and challenges for each option.

A link to the position paper has been provided below.

The Fuel Trilemma: Next Generation of Marine Fuels

Image: DNV GL's position paper analyses the affordability, sustainability, safety and the reliability of future fuels.