Hydrogen as a Sustainable Fuel: Transforming Maritime Logistics

The marine industry, being the backbone of world trade, is under tremendous pressure to reduce its environmental impact, mainly driven by reliance on fossil fuels and significant greenhouse gas emissions. This paper looks at hydrogen as a transformative energy vector for maritime logistics. It delve...

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Main Authors: Seyedeh Azadeh Alavi-Borazjani, Shahzada Adeel, Valentina Chkoniya
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Energies
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/5/1231
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author Seyedeh Azadeh Alavi-Borazjani
Shahzada Adeel
Valentina Chkoniya
author_facet Seyedeh Azadeh Alavi-Borazjani
Shahzada Adeel
Valentina Chkoniya
author_sort Seyedeh Azadeh Alavi-Borazjani
collection DOAJ
description The marine industry, being the backbone of world trade, is under tremendous pressure to reduce its environmental impact, mainly driven by reliance on fossil fuels and significant greenhouse gas emissions. This paper looks at hydrogen as a transformative energy vector for maritime logistics. It delves into the methods of hydrogen production, innovative propulsion technologies, and the environmental advantages of adopting hydrogen. The analysis extends to the economic feasibility of this transition and undertakes a comparative evaluation with other alternative fuels to emphasize the distinct strengths and weaknesses of hydrogen. Furthermore, based on case studies and pilot projects, this study elaborates on how hydrogen can be used in real-world maritime contexts, concluding that the combination of ammonia and green hydrogen in hybrid propulsion systems presents increased flexibility, with ammonia serving as the primary fuel while hydrogen enhances efficiency and powers auxiliary systems. This approach represents a promising solution for reducing the shipping sector’s carbon footprint, enabling the industry to achieve greater sustainability while maintaining the efficiency and scalability essential for global trade. Overall, this work bridges the gap between theoretical concepts and actionable solutions, therefore offering valuable insights into decarbonization in the maritime sector and achieving global sustainability goals.
format Article
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series Energies
spelling doaj-art-4fd8ea61e24a41589ad04c61431caa292025-08-20T02:59:14ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732025-03-01185123110.3390/en18051231Hydrogen as a Sustainable Fuel: Transforming Maritime LogisticsSeyedeh Azadeh Alavi-Borazjani0Shahzada Adeel1Valentina Chkoniya2Department of Environment and Planning and Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalDepartment of Business Education, University of Chenab, Gujrat 50700, PakistanAveiro Institute of Accounting and Administration (ISCA) and Research Unit on Governance, Competitiveness and Public Policies (GOVCOPP), University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, PortugalThe marine industry, being the backbone of world trade, is under tremendous pressure to reduce its environmental impact, mainly driven by reliance on fossil fuels and significant greenhouse gas emissions. This paper looks at hydrogen as a transformative energy vector for maritime logistics. It delves into the methods of hydrogen production, innovative propulsion technologies, and the environmental advantages of adopting hydrogen. The analysis extends to the economic feasibility of this transition and undertakes a comparative evaluation with other alternative fuels to emphasize the distinct strengths and weaknesses of hydrogen. Furthermore, based on case studies and pilot projects, this study elaborates on how hydrogen can be used in real-world maritime contexts, concluding that the combination of ammonia and green hydrogen in hybrid propulsion systems presents increased flexibility, with ammonia serving as the primary fuel while hydrogen enhances efficiency and powers auxiliary systems. This approach represents a promising solution for reducing the shipping sector’s carbon footprint, enabling the industry to achieve greater sustainability while maintaining the efficiency and scalability essential for global trade. Overall, this work bridges the gap between theoretical concepts and actionable solutions, therefore offering valuable insights into decarbonization in the maritime sector and achieving global sustainability goals.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/5/1231sustainable maritime logisticsmaritime energy transitionhydrogen-powered vesselszero-emission shippingmaritime decarbonizationEuropean emissions trading system
spellingShingle Seyedeh Azadeh Alavi-Borazjani
Shahzada Adeel
Valentina Chkoniya
Hydrogen as a Sustainable Fuel: Transforming Maritime Logistics
Energies
sustainable maritime logistics
maritime energy transition
hydrogen-powered vessels
zero-emission shipping
maritime decarbonization
European emissions trading system
title Hydrogen as a Sustainable Fuel: Transforming Maritime Logistics
title_full Hydrogen as a Sustainable Fuel: Transforming Maritime Logistics
title_fullStr Hydrogen as a Sustainable Fuel: Transforming Maritime Logistics
title_full_unstemmed Hydrogen as a Sustainable Fuel: Transforming Maritime Logistics
title_short Hydrogen as a Sustainable Fuel: Transforming Maritime Logistics
title_sort hydrogen as a sustainable fuel transforming maritime logistics
topic sustainable maritime logistics
maritime energy transition
hydrogen-powered vessels
zero-emission shipping
maritime decarbonization
European emissions trading system
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/18/5/1231
work_keys_str_mv AT seyedehazadehalaviborazjani hydrogenasasustainablefueltransformingmaritimelogistics
AT shahzadaadeel hydrogenasasustainablefueltransformingmaritimelogistics
AT valentinachkoniya hydrogenasasustainablefueltransformingmaritimelogistics