Assessing the technical and economic viability of implementing a fuel cell-battery system in a cable-laying vessel
The impact of adding a methanol-fuelled SOFC and batteries to the power plant of the NEXUS on the emissions, design and performance of the ship
F.J. Verbaan (TU Delft - Mechanical Engineering)
J.L. Gelling – Mentor (TU Delft - Ship Design, Production and Operations)
Linder Van Biert – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Ship Design, Production and Operations)
P De Vos – Graduation committee member (TU Delft - Ship Design, Production and Operations)
M. Burg – Mentor (Van Oord Dredging and Marine Contractors)
More Info
expand_more
Other than for strictly personal use, it is not permitted to download, forward or distribute the text or part of it, without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), unless the work is under an open content license such as Creative Commons.
Abstract
This master's thesis addresses the urgent need to reduce the marine industry's environmental impact. Van Oord, a marine player, aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. The study investigates integrating methanol-fueled Solid Oxide Fuel Cells and batteries into the cable laying vessel NEXUS's power plant.
The research shows that integrating these technologies can offer acceptable operational capabilities and substantial greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the medium term. However, short-term implementation faces challenges due to current SOFC limitations.
Economically, long-term fuel cost savings make this integration viable, despite high initial capital expenditure.
The study includes a literature review favoring SOFCs and methanol for cable laying vessels. The case study proposes a 1926 kW SOFC and a 1195 kW battery pack integration, resulting in significant fuel consumption and emissions reductions while complying with regulations.
In conclusion, integrating methanol-fueled SOFCs and batteries in cable laying operations presents an opportunity for efficiency improvement and GHG reduction, with long-term economic benefits. This supports Van Oord's commitment to carbon neutrality and addresses the marine industry's environmental challenges