Work

Life-Cycle Assessment of an Ammonia-Fueled SOFC Container Ship: Identifying Key Impact Drivers and Environmental Advantages over Diesel-Powered Vessels

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: The use of ammonia-fueled solid oxide fuel cells (NH3-SOFC) in shipping has emerged as a key area of research for advancing zero-carbon transportation. This study integrates and analyzes a novel ship design powered by NH3-SOFCs to quantify its environmental impact across its entire life-cycle, from production to disposal. A 200 TEU ammonia-fueled container ship operating on the Yangtze River is used as the reference vessel. Comprehensive technical analysis and modeling of the ship’s construction, operation, and Decommissioning stages are conducted. By utilizing life-cycle assessment and the ReCiPe 2016 method for calculations, 19 environmental impact indicators were obtained, weighted, and normalized. Life-cycle characterization results reveal that ecosystem and human health impacts are predominantly influenced by the operation stage. Thus, focusing on environmental protection measures and technological innovations during operation is crucial to mitigate these impacts. Conversely, resource depletion is mainly driven by the construction stage, underscoring the need for optimized design, production processes, and the use of eco-friendly materials to reduce resource consumption. A comparative analysis between diesel-powered and ammonia-powered ships shows that while ammonia SOFC ships have a slightly higher environmental load in terms of metal consumption, diesel-powered ships exhibit higher overall environmental loads in other impact indicators. This demonstrates the superior environmental and social benefits of ammonia SOFC ships compared to traditional diesel power systems.

Source: Journal of Marine Science and Engineering

DOI: 10.3390/jmse13101873

Authors: Yupeng Li, Fenghui Han, Meng Wang, Daan Cui, Yulong Ji, Zhe Wang

Institution: Dalian Maritime University

Language: English

Topic: Maritime Transport Emissions and Efficiency

Subfield: Environmental Engineering

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Climate action, Affordable and clean energy, Responsible consumption and production, Industry, innovation and infrastructure

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137