Natural gas as a marine fuel. (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Thomson, Heather; Corbett, James J.; Winebrake, James J.
• Is Part Of: Energy policy. Volume 87(2015)
• Page Start: 153
• Page End: 167
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: BTU British Thermal Unit -- CAGR compound annual growth rate -- CH4 methane -- CI compression ignited -- CO2 carbon dioxide -- EC East Coast Case -- ECA emissions control area -- EMSA European Maritime Safety Agency -- EU European Union -- GHG greenhouse gases -- GIFT Geospatial Intermodal Freight Transportation -- GREET Greenhouse Gas and Regulated Emissions and Energy Use in Transportation -- GWP Global Warming Potential -- GWP100 Global Warming Potential at 100 years -- HP Horsepower -- HS high sulfur distillate marine fuel (10, 000 ppm sulfur) -- IEA International Energy Agency -- IMO International Maritime Organization -- Import Terminal Facility that is licensed to accept natural gas from overseas -- IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -- LA/LB Port of Los Angeles and Long Beach -- LCA Life-Cycle Analysis -- LNG liquefied natural gas -- LS low sulfur distillate marine fuel (1000 ppm sulfur) -- MARAD U.S. Department of Transportation Maritime Administration -- MARPOL International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships -- N2O Nitrous Oxide -- NA NG North American Natural Gas -- NG Natural Gas -- NNA NG Non-North American Natural Gas -- NOx Oxides of Nitrogen -- OECD Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development -- OGV Ocean-Going Vessel -- PANYNJ Port Authority of New York and New Jersey -- PM10 Particulate Matter (with aerodynamic diameter smaller than 10 μm) -- Pathway The set of processes utilized to get the fuel from the wellhead to the fueling station in the port. -- S sulfur -- SI spark ignited -- SOx oxides of sulfur -- TEAMS Total Energy and Environmental Analysis for Marine Systems -- TEU twenty-foot equivalent unit -- TFCA total fuel-cycle analysis, which is a life-cycle analysis of fuel production and use -- TWP Technology Warming Potential -- US United States -- USCG U.S. Coast Guard -- WC West Coast Case; Natural gas -- Life-cycle analysis -- Greenhouse gases -- Marine transportation -- Environmental policy; Energy policy -- Periodicals; Politique énergétique -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 333.79
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enpol.2015.08.027
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0301-4215

Abstract

Abstract: This paper provides new knowledge about the life-cycle emissions of natural gas compared to traditional petroleum-based fuels in the marine sector. While natural gas will reduce local air pollutants, such as sulfur oxides and particulate matter, the implications for greenhouse gases depend on how the natural gas is extracted, processed, distributed, and used. Applying a "technology warming potential" (TWP) approach, natural gas as a marine fuel achieves climate parity within 30 years for diesel ignited engines, though could take up to 190 years to reach climate parity with conventional fuels in a spark ignited engine. Movement towards natural gas as a marine fuel continues to progress, and conditions exist in some regions to make a near-term transition to natural gas feasible. Liquefied natural gas in marine transportation is likely to be incentivized where economics favoring natural gas is coupled with air emissions public policy targets. To ensure that climate neutral conversion is achieved with the least delay, TWP results highlight the important role of energy policy for infrastructure development of upstream pathways and onboard ship systems technology innovation. Highlights: Natural gas reduces local air pollutants compared to traditional maritime fuels. First application of Technology Warming Potential in a marine setting. LNG may exhibit lower TWP compared to diesel under certain conditions and timeframes. Well-designed energy policy can promote better regional low-GHG LNG infrastructure.