Study Evaluates Hybrid Power Systems for Reducing Emissions in Norwegian Fishing Vessels
A study comparing onboard power systems for a 10.5-meter gillnet vessel indicates that a hydrogen fuel cell-battery hybrid system can achieve near-zero operational emissions but has higher upstream emissions. The research, part of the ZeroKyst KSP project, used a cradle-to-gate life cycle assessment (LCA) and identified that direct emissions from fuel combustion are the most detrimental to climate and health.
The hybrid system (SHS) can reduce direct emissions by up to 92% when sourced from low-carbon electricity and hydrogen from renewable resources in Norway. However, its effectiveness is influenced by factors such as electricity mix and component replacement rates.
Alternatively, the parallel hybrid system (PHS) offers a 30% reduction in climate impact and utilizes more established technologies, representing a viable near-term solution for coastal vessels. The study is pending journal submission.
