Environmental assessment of a hybrid ship electrification system integrating molten carbonate fuel cells, battery, and waste heat recovery

Yuksel, O ORCID: 0000-0002-5728-5866, Blanco-Davis, E ORCID: 0000-0001-8080-4997, Shagar, V ORCID: 0000-0001-7933-0958, Spiteri, A, Hitchmough, D ORCID: 0009-0008-5474-7149, Di Piazza, MC, Pucci, M, Tsoulakos, N and Wang, J ORCID: 0000-0003-4646-9106 (2025) Environmental assessment of a hybrid ship electrification system integrating molten carbonate fuel cells, battery, and waste heat recovery. In: IHTEC International Hydrogen Technologies Congress 2025 Proceedings . pp. 126-129. (9th International Hydrogen Technologies Congress (IHTEC 2025), 25th - 28th May 2025, Izmir, Turkey).

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Abstract

This study aims to analyse the integration of a hybrid system, including a Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell (MCFC), battery and an organic Rankine cycle-based waste heat recovery system (WHRS) into marine power distribution through numerical simulations and environmental assessments using sensory data. It contributes to the literature by evaluating the environmental viability of a liquefied natural gas-powered MCFC system as an investment for maritime decarbonisation goals. The data collection was undertaken on a Kamsarmax bulk carrier. The environmental assessment examines the plant's upstream (well-to-tank) and operational (tank-to-wake) emissions. Results indicate that implementing LNG tanks and MCFC has required design modifications to accommodate additional volume and weight. The hybrid MCFC/Battery/WHRS configuration has significantly reduced the marine power distribution plant's equivalent carbon dioxide (CO2-Eq). Although methane (CH4) emissions have increased due to LNG usage, non-greenhouse gas emissions have decreased considerably. A rise in combined CH4 emissions from propulsion and electrification plants has been found. However, the hybrid system has achieved a considerable reduction in CO2-Eq. Keywords: Hybrid power system, fuel cell, maritime decarbonization, emissions, ship electrification

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Liverpool Logistics Offshore and Marine Research Institute (LOOM)
Subjects:	T Technology > TC Hydraulic engineering. Ocean engineering V Naval Science > VM Naval architecture. Shipbuilding. Marine engineering
Divisions:	Engineering
Date of acceptance:	1 April 2025
Date of first compliant Open Access:	8 January 2026
Date Deposited:	08 Jan 2026 11:51
Last Modified:	08 Jan 2026 11:51
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/27779

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