BMT and PA Consulting have explored the feasibility of retrofitting medium-sized Ro-Pax ferries with hydrogen propulsion and storage know-how.
The ensuing white paper assesses the financial and technical feasibility of retrofitting present vessels with hydrogen propulsion methods, presenting three retrofit alternate options with various complexity, hydrogen demand and prices. These choices contain dual-fuel engines with compressed gaseous hydrogen storage, hydrogen gas cells with liquefied hydrogen storage and inside combustion engines working on 100% hydrogen with liquefied hydrogen storage.
The white paper, ‘Feasibility of retrofitting medium-sized Ro-Pax ferries to utilise hydrogen propulsion and storage know-how,’ employs an 85-meter Ro-Pax catamaran as a case examine, analyzing the vessel’s traits, operational profile, and potential for retrofitting. The vessel’s dimension, pace and operational frequency make it a great candidate for transitioning to hydrogen propulsion. The examine considers three retrofit choices, incorporating technoeconomic modelling to evaluate prices and advantages.
The examine supplies a complete overview of hydrogen manufacturing pathways, specializing in inexperienced and blue hydrogen. It explores numerous hydrogen propulsion choices, evaluating gas cells and inside combustion engines. Onboard hydrogen storage choices, together with compressed and liquefied hydrogen, are analyzed, contemplating components akin to house, security, and retrofit challenges.
A important issue within the examine is the supply of hydrogen for refueling throughout the vessel’s operational profile. The evaluation considers eventualities the place hydrogen is produced each regionally and offsite, assessing the influence of transportation on complete price of possession. The examine underscores the significance of minimizing hydrogen transportation distances for financial viability.
The examine evaluates the levelized price of hydrogen for various manufacturing strategies, evaluating blue and inexperienced hydrogen, and assesses this towards the gas price for MGO. The extra influence of subsidies on the price of hydrogen gas can also be assessed. That is mixed with an evaluation of the capital price of conversion and different OPEX to evaluate the full price of possession over the vessel lifetime.
The white paper concludes that hydrogen gas cells supply a cheap propulsion answer for the studied vessel on a total-cost-of-ownership foundation over its lifetime when in comparison with continued use of MGO. The evaluation additionally exhibits that whereas prices for low-carbon fuels are at the moment larger than fossil alternate options, components akin to know-how development and carbon pricing are anticipated to drive down this price differential within the coming years. The examine emphasizes the necessity for subsidies, strategic co-location of hydrogen belongings, and ongoing developments in hydrogen know-how for long-term viability.
The examine acknowledges the challenges of integrating hydrogen know-how into present ships however underscores the potential advantages for decarbonization. The white paper additionally incorporates detailed modelling of the price of hydrogen manufacturing over a typical vessel lifetime. The mannequin considers techno-economics, hydrogen manufacturing pathways and authorities insurance policies, tailoring the evaluation to the vessel’s operational necessities.
Ro-Pax ferries contribute 37 million tonnes of CO2 yearly.
