Potential market for liquid hydrogen as marine fuel in the Aleutian Islands

Reports and Proceedings

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON CLEAN TRANSPORTATION

 

IMAGE: POTENTIAL LIQUID HYDROGEN DEMAND IN THE ALEUTIAN ISLANDS BY SHIP TYPE UNDER THE THREE SCENARIOS ANALYZED. view more 

CREDIT: INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL ON CLEAN TRANSPORTATION.

Washington, DC, 22 June 2022 — As interest grows in the potential of using “green” hydrogen generated from renewable electricity to help decarbonize maritime shipping, a new study from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) estimates there could be substantial demand for liquid hydrogen (LH2) at the Aleutian Islands ports in Alaska, including 10,000 tonnes annually from ships that already call on Dutch Harbor.

The introduction of hydrogen-powered ships is likely to happen in stages, and meeting the 10,000 tonnes of latent demand, about 77% of it from local fishing vessels, might stimulate a market for LH2 that could later be expanded to oceangoing vessels. Indeed, the study finds that in a future scenario where additional oceangoing vessels divert to Alaska to refuel as part of a mature transpacific hydrogen network, the annual demand at the Aleutian Islands could be up to 260,000 tonnes of LH2. That is a market value of more than $1 billion, assuming 2035 LH2 prices. An even larger potential market of up to $1.6 billion could potentially be captured if Alaska is an early mover and makes proactive investments in LH2 bunkering infrastructure to lock in customers.

“Our research highlights that Alaska has both potential supply of and demand for renewable marine fuels,” said Elise Georgeff, associate researcher at ICCT and the study's lead author. “Building a market for hydrogen at Aleutian Islands ports could reduce pollution, spur local economic development, and help local Indigenous communities reduce their dependence on fossil fuels,” she added.

The study also finds that most current models are underestimating energy use from fishing vessels by about one-quarter because they neglect substantial hydraulic and refrigeration loads. Further, fishing fuel use is bimodal: Though propulsion demands most of the energy on transit voyages, energy use for hydraulics and refrigeration is essential during and after active fishing. This improved understanding could be of help to those designing future zero-emission fishing vessels and engines.

“There is a strong case here for U.S. federal funding to help jumpstart hydrogen bunkering at Aleutian ports, as it would leverage their favorable geography, significant latent demand, and untapped renewable energy potential,” said Marine Program Director Dan Rutherford.

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed by the United States in 2021 included $2.25 billion for port infrastructure. “Supporting liquid hydrogen in the Aleutians is a unique opportunity to decarbonize shipping in the United States,” Rutherford said.

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Contacts
Dan Rutherford (San Francisco), marine program director, dan@theicct.org   

Publication details
“Scaling U.S. zero-emission shipping: Potential hydrogen demand at Aleutian Islands ports”
Authors: Elise Georgeff, Xiaoli Mao, and Dan Rutherford
Download: https://theicct.org/publication/marine-us-aleutians-hydrogen-jun22

The International Council on Clean Transportation is an independent nonprofit organization founded to provide first-rate, unbiased research and technical and scientific analysis to environmental regulators. Our mission is to improve the environmental performance and energy efficiency of road, marine, and air transportation, in order to benefit public health and mitigate climate change.

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