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Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and cost of marine transport with conventional fuels and methanol

Journal Article

Title: Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and cost of marine transport with conventional fuels and methanol
Author:
Tripathi, S.
Publication Date:
Journal:
Energy Conversion and Management: X
Volume:
27
Pages:
101116
Publisher:
Elsevier
Fuels Group:
Methanol
Fuel Blends Mentioned?
Yes
Feedstocks Group:
CO₂, Hydrogen
Pathways Group:
Electrochemical
Topics:
Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) and Air Emissions
Vessel Segment:
Ocean-going Vessels
Language:
English

Document Access

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Document Source
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Citation

Tripathi, S. (2025). Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and cost of marine transport with conventional fuels and methanol. Energy Conversion and Management: X, 27, 101116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecmx.2025.101116
@article{Tripathi-2025-4050,
author = {Tripathi, S},
title = {Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and cost of marine transport with conventional fuels and methanol},
journal = {Energy Conversion and Management: X},
year = {2025},
month = {jan},
publisher = {Elsevier},
volume = {27},
pages = {101116},
doi = {10.1016/j.ecmx.2025.101116},
url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259017452500248X},
keywords = {CO₂, Hydrogen, Methanol, Electrochemical, Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) and Air Emissions, Ocean-going Vessels},
}
Export Citation to BibTex
TY - JOUR
TI - Life cycle greenhouse gas emissions and cost of marine transport with conventional fuels and methanol
AU - Tripathi, S
T2 - Energy Conversion and Management: X
AB - In this study, the production and use of renewable-based methanol as a low carbon intensity fuel for a SUEZMAX tanker is evaluated for energy transport from Saudi Arabia to Asia (Japan) and Europe (the Netherlands), in comparison to the conventional fossil-based fuels. Renewable-based methanol production has been modeled in all three regions from hydrogen, produced with solar or wind energy, and carbon dioxide (CO2) captured from sources relevant to each region. The Well-to-Wake life cycle GHG emissions analysis and life cycle cost analysis was performed for the two types of trips of the SUEZMAX tanker operating on renewable-based methanol, natural gas-based methanol, liquefied natural gas (LNG), very low sulfur fuel oil and high sulfur fuel oil. A sensitivity analysis was performed by varying the cost and carbon intensity of hydrogen production based on annual variation in renewable energy in the three regions, as well as changing the source for CO2 captured to produce renewable-based methanol in each region. Sensitivity analysis results for life cycle cost (399 to 921 million US dollars) and life cycle emissions (0.5 to 2.1 million metric tonnes) were used to evaluate the cost of carbon abatement, which was observed to be the lowest (3 to 12 US dollar per metric tonne of CO2) when the hydrogen cost was assumed to be $1/kg. Of the three regions examined, Saudi Arabia was the location for renewable-based methanol production with lowest life cycle emissions (0.5 to 0.8 million metric tonnes) and cost (588 to 597 million US dollars), while Europe was shown to be the next most cost-effective region for renewable-based methanol production.
DA - 2025/01//
PY - 2025
PB - Elsevier
VL - 27
SP - 101116
UR - https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S259017452500248X
DO - 10.1016/j.ecmx.2025.101116
LA - English
KW - CO₂
KW - Hydrogen
KW - Methanol
KW - Electrochemical
KW - Lifecycle Assessment (LCA) and Air Emissions
KW - Ocean-going Vessels
ER -
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Abstract

In this study, the production and use of renewable-based methanol as a low carbon intensity fuel for a SUEZMAX tanker is evaluated for energy transport from Saudi Arabia to Asia (Japan) and Europe (the Netherlands), in comparison to the conventional fossil-based fuels. Renewable-based methanol production has been modeled in all three regions from hydrogen, produced with solar or wind energy, and carbon dioxide (CO2) captured from sources relevant to each region. The Well-to-Wake life cycle GHG emissions analysis and life cycle cost analysis was performed for the two types of trips of the SUEZMAX tanker operating on renewable-based methanol, natural gas-based methanol, liquefied natural gas (LNG), very low sulfur fuel oil and high sulfur fuel oil. A sensitivity analysis was performed by varying the cost and carbon intensity of hydrogen production based on annual variation in renewable energy in the three regions, as well as changing the source for CO2 captured to produce renewable-based methanol in each region. Sensitivity analysis results for life cycle cost (399 to 921 million US dollars) and life cycle emissions (0.5 to 2.1 million metric tonnes) were used to evaluate the cost of carbon abatement, which was observed to be the lowest (3 to 12 US dollar per metric tonne of CO2) when the hydrogen cost was assumed to be $1/kg. Of the three regions examined, Saudi Arabia was the location for renewable-based methanol production with lowest life cycle emissions (0.5 to 0.8 million metric tonnes) and cost (588 to 597 million US dollars), while Europe was shown to be the next most cost-effective region for renewable-based methanol production.