Enhancing Energy Efficiency in the Shipping Industry: Integration of High-Temperature Proton-Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells

The shipping industry is undergoing significant changes and facing increasingly stringent environmental objectives. While the adoption of new fuels and technologies aims to reduce carbon dioxide and pollutant emissions, these efforts alone are no longer sufficient to mitigate the environmental impact of large ships, which currently contribute to 3% of global carbon dioxide emissions. In addition to transitioning to more sustainable technologies compared to traditional internal combustion engines and altering fuel types, optimizing the management of new technologies and maximizing the utilization of thermal waste from cooling circuits are critical steps in enhancing the energy efficiency of ships and minimizing their environmental footprint. Specifically, this study focuses on the adoption and integration of a high-temperature proton-exchange membrane fuel cell onboards a large cruise ship. To assess the impact of the fuel cell, a comprehensive dynamic model is developed, incorporating all onboard technologies capable of producing electrical and thermal energy, including internal combustion engines, exhaust gas boilers, and oil-fired boilers. The objective function adopted for optimize the whole energy system is to maximize the contribution of the proton-exchange membrane fuel cell within the energy system of the ship, by taking into account both electrical and thermal energy fluxes.