Pathways to maritime decarbonisation: comparative insights of solar powered proven designs
Abstract
The maritime industry, a significant contributor to global carbon emissions, faces mounting pressure to transition toward sustainable operations through the integration of renewable energy technologies. This study offers a detailed comparative analysis of two solar-powered vessels, MS Tûranor PlanetSolar and Energy Observer, with a focus on their proven design principles, energy systems, and contributions to maritime decarbonization. MS Tûranor PlanetSolar, the first solar-powered vessel to circumnavigate the globe, features a solar-only design powered by 512 m² of photovoltaic panels and a 1,350 kWh lithium-ion battery system. This configuration allows for zero-emission operations but presents limitations in scalability and energy autonomy.In contrast, Energy Observer combines solar panels, wind turbines, and hydrogen fuel cells, showcasing a hybrid energy system capable of producing and storing hydrogen through onboard seawater electrolysis. This approach significantly extends its autonomy and operational versatility, making it more adaptable to diverse environmental conditions. The study evaluates the energy efficiency, environmental impact, and scalability of these vessels, highlighting their role as benchmarks for sustainable maritime engineering. By examining their real-world applications and limitations, the research underscores the importance of hybrid renewable energy systems and optimized designs in accelerating the decarbonization of global shipping. These findings provide critical insights for policymakers, engineers, and industry stakeholders seeking to promote sustainable practices within the maritime sector.
Downloads
References
[2]. Rusu, E., “Marine Renewable Energy and the Transition to a Low-Carbon Future”, Journal of Marine Science and Engineer-ing, 12(4), 568., 2024; https://doi.org/10.3390/jmse12040568
[3]. Barbu, F., Rusu, E., “A review of the har-vesting methods for offshore renewable en-ergy – advances and challenges”, Journal of Marine Technology and Environment, 2, 7–17,2024; https://doi.org/10.53464/JMTE.02.2024.01
[4]. Yue, M., Lambert, H., Pahon, E., Roche, R., Jemei, S., & Hissel, D., “Hydrogen en-ergy systems: A critical review of technolo-gies, applications, trends and challenges”, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Re-views, 146, 111180, 2021; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2021.111180
[5]. “An unprecedented operation on the hydro-gen system”, Energy Observer, 2023, sep-tembrie 21; https://www.energy-observer.org/innovations/unprecedented-operation-on-the-hydrogen-system
[6]. Bleicher, A., “Solar sailor [Dream Jobs » 2013—Renewables]”, IEEE Spectrum, 50(2), 45–46, 2013; https://doi.org/10.1109/MSPEC.2013.6420144
[7]. Gürsu, H., “Solar And Wind Powered Con-cept Boats: The Example Of Volitan”, METU JOURNAL OF THE FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE, 2014; https://doi.org/10.4305/METU.JFA.2014.2.6
[8]. Tashie-Lewis, B. C., Nnabuife, S. G., “Hydrogen Production, Distribution, Stor-age and Power Conversion in a Hydrogen Economy—A Technology Review”, Chemi-cal Engineering Journal Advances, 8, 100172,2021; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ceja.2021.100172
[9]. The hydrogen chain step 2: The Energy Observer electrolyser. (f.a.). Energy Ob-server. 20th of October 2024; https://www.energy-observer.org/resources/hydrogen-chain-electrolyser
[10]. Shi, Y., Luo, W., “Application of Solar Photovoltaic Power Generation System in Maritime Vessels and Development of Mari-time Tourism”, Polish Maritime Research, 25(s2), 176–181, 2018; https://doi.org/10.2478/pomr-2018-0090
[11]. Chen, P. S.-L., Fan, H., Enshaei, H., Zhang, W., Shi, W., Abdussamie, N., Miwa, T., Qu, Z., & Yang, Z.,“Opportunities and Challenges of Hy-drogen Ports: An Empirical Study in Aus-tralia and Japan”, Hydrogen, 5(3), 436–458, 2024; https://doi.org/10.3390/hydrogen5030025
[12]. Arief, I. S., Fathalah, A., “Review Of Al-ternative Energy Resource For The Future Ship Power”, IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 972(1), 012073, 2022; https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/972/1/012073
[13]. D’Orazio, D., “An inside look at the world’s largest solar-powered boat”, The Verge, 2013; https://www.theverge.com/2013/6/22/4454980/ms-turanor-planetsolar-solar-powered-boat-photo-essay
[14]. Al Baroudi, H., Awoyomi, A., Patchigolla, K., Jonnalagadda, K., An-thony, E. J., “A review of large-scale CO2 shipping and marine emissions management for carbon capture, utilisation and storage”, Applied Energy, 287, 116510, 2021; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.116510
[15]. Bilgili, L., and Ölçer, A. I., “IMO 2023 strategy-Where are we and what’s next?” Marine Policy, 160, 105953, 2024; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2023.105953
[16]. Boat’s voyage a shining example of solar potential. BBC News, 2013;https://www.bbc.com/news/business-23936775
[17]. Pagliaro, M., “Hydrogen-powered boats and ships”, Current Trends and Future De-velopments on (Bio-) Membranes (pp. 411–419). Elsevier, 2020; https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-817384-8.00018-2
[18]. Thandasherry, S., “COST OF ENERGY IN A VESSEL: Assessing likely applications in marine transport where shift to electric will succeed without other interventions”, Inter-national Conference on Green Technolo-gies in Coastal and Inland Water Transpor-tation , 2024; https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.13017.94560
[19]. Chirosca, A.-M., Rusu, E., Minzu, V., “Green Hydrogen—Production and Storage Methods: Current Status and Future Direc-tions”, Energies, 17(23), 5820, 2024. https://doi.org/10.3390/en17235820
