Knowledge gaps in fuel cell-based maritime hybrid power plants and alternative fuels

Resumen

The maritime industry is facing a technological challenge with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions towards achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Focus is on the use of alternative fuels and fuel cell technologies, combined in hybrid power plants with well-known technologies such as internal combustion engines and gas turbines to achieve high flexibility. In this work, hybridized proton exchange membrane fuel cells and solid oxide fuel cells are the fuel cell technologies under investigation, together with hydrogen, methanol and ammonia fuels. To do this, literature on fuel cell-based maritime hybrid power plants is analyzed and discussed to identify knowledge areas not fully covered yet and to open future debate on the topic from a maritime engineering perspective. Among others, combination of proton exchange and solid oxide fuel cells or evaluation of cargo space loss in detriment of fuel storage are identified as knowledge gaps.