This thesis investigates the total environmental impact of various alternative marine energy carriers while taking the powering increase into account due to their disadvantageous spatial requirements compared to conventional fuel. A parametric design tool for bulk carriers, tankers, container ships, and trailing suction hopper dredgers has been developed for the future marine energy carriers to determine the total installed engine power increase. A more environmentally friendly energy carrier can be overturned because the total installed engine power increase is proportionate to the energy consumption increase. A comparative life cycle assessment (LCA) has been performed on fuel oil, methanol, LNG, liquid hydrogen, ammonia, and batteries for the conventional and a bio/renewable version of their well-to-wake pathway. The powering impact results indicate that all ship type and energy carrier combinations require a higher total installed main engine power and consequently a higher energy carrier consumption. The total environmental impact results indicate that only renewable liquid hydrogen and renewable ammonia have less adverse effects on global warming, and cause less damage to human health, ecosystems, and natural resource availability.

This paper investigates the spatial requirements of alternative marine energy carriers and their impact on ship design and powering for constant operational requirements. A parametric design tool for bulk carriers, tankers, and container ships has been developed for the predicted future marine energy carriers to determine the main engine brake power increase. The results indicate that all ship type and energy carrier combinations require a higher total installed engine power and consequently a higher energy carrier consumption. The results are intended to support the determination on the total environmental impact of marine energy carriers while taking the increased energy consumption into account.