Criteria and Decision Support for A Sustainable Choice of Alternative Marine Fuels
Journal article, 2020

To reach the International Maritime Organization, IMO, vision of a 50% greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reduction by 2050, there is a need for action. Good decision support is needed for decisions on fuel and energy conversion systems due to the complexity. This paper aims to get an overview of the criteria types included in present assessments of future marine fuels, to evaluate these and to highlight the most important criteria. This is done using a literature review of selected scientific articles and reports and the authors’ own insights from assessing marine fuels. There are different views regarding the goal of fuel change, what fuel names to use as well as regarding the criteria to assess, which therefore vary in the literature. Quite a few articles and reports include a comparison of several alternative fuels. To promote a transition to fuels with significant GHG reduction potential, it is crucial to apply a life cycle perspective and to assess fuel options in a multicriteria perspective. The recommended minimum set of criteria to consider when evaluating future marine fuels differ somewhat between fuels that can be used in existing ships and fuels that can be used in new types of propulsion systems

emission reduction

multicriteria analysis

marine fuels

alternative fuels

GHG

Author

Karin Andersson

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Maritime Studies

Selma Brynolf

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Maritime Studies

Julia Hansson

IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute

Maria Grahn

Chalmers, Mechanics and Maritime Sciences (M2), Maritime Studies

Sustainability

20711050 (eISSN)

Vol. 12 9 3623- 3623

Driving Forces

Sustainable development

Areas of Advance

Transport

Energy

Subject Categories

Social Sciences Interdisciplinary

Environmental Sciences

DOI

10.3390/su12093623

More information

Latest update

4/5/2022 6