MSc Thesis: Evaluation study for an ammonia-fed and solid-oxide fuel cell powered trailing suction hopper dredger for Van Oord Offshore Contractors
REYKJAVIK, June 07 - MSc in Sustainable Energy candidate, Thomas Cornelis, successfully defends his master's thesis where he performed an evaluation study for an ammonia-fed and solid-oxide fuel cell powered trailing suction hopper dredger for Van Oord Offshore Contractors. Thomas' research was supervised by Hlynur Stefánsson from Reykjavik University.
Thomas set the context for his work, explaining that the maritime industry is facing some serious challenges with regards to meeting the Paris agreement goals. Many zero-emission technology have been studied with the intention of reducing GHG emissions in the industry. United Nations' International Maritime Organisation has set the goal to reduce the industry's emissions by 50% in 2050. To meet this goal every new-build ship should be emission free as of 2030.
In partnership with Van Oord Offshore Contractors, Thomas conducted an evaluation study to examine the possibility of a Zero-Emission Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger. For his evaluation study, Thomas researched the possibility of using an Ammonia-fed and Solid-Oxide-Fuel-Cell powered hybrid Trailing Suction Hopper Dredger (TSHD). Thomas performed an analysis of the Power Demand behaviour of an existing TSHD, a multi-criteria analysis concerning a hybrid power system, a retrofit design of a TSHD and a cost estimation study of the implementation of the researched technologies.
Thomas found that the implementation of an Ammonia-fed and Solid-Oxide-Fuel-Cell will significantly decrease the autonomy of the TSHD by 80%. The decrease of autonomy comes together with an increase of cost of the new technology of almost 200%. Thomas adds that the hourly fuel rate cost are expected to increase with roughly 300%. The CO2 reduction of the TSHD amounts 3,420 metric tonne on an hourly base. Concluding, Thomas states that implementing the Ammonia and SOFC's in the TSHD will guarantee meeting emission reduction goals of the International Maritime Organisation.
Congratulations to Thomas on an excellent thesis project!
Thomas Cornelis is presently a Project Manager at Sunrock, based in Amsterdam. Sunrock develops, finances and manages large-scale rooftop solar parks for logistics real estate and expands solar parks with storage systems and energy efficiency products and services.