LONDON – In the first comprehensive study of propulsion for under-24m boats, ICOMIA provides a multi-track approach to decarbonize recreational boating. The International Council of Marine Industry Associations is the international trade group representing the global marine industry.
It asked Ricardo Plc, a British environmental and engineering consultancy, to examine propulsion technologies for nine commonly used pleasure craft. And rate their impact on greenhouse gas emissions, their costs, performance, range and infrastructure impacts.
The report paints a complex scenario for the sector’s road to sustainability. It considered these propulsion technologies:
- Battery-electric (electric boats and personal watercraft)
- Hybrid electric propulsion (liquid-fuel combustion engines and electric propulsion)
- Hydrogen (internal combustion engines or fuel cells)
- Combustion engines with renewable marine fuels (sustainably produced liquid replacement for conventional fossil fuel)
- Combustion engines with gasoline or diesel
Because of the diversity of boat types and uses, the research shows no one-size-fits-all solution to decarbonizing pleasure craft worldwide, leaving the industry to consider multiple technologies.
Sustainable liquid marine fuels – such as renewable drop-ins (diesel and gasoline blended with any renewable variant), will likely be the most appropriate energy source to decarbonize 90% of the global sector by 2035.
Hydrogen can significantly slash carbon emissions via electrolysis if that electricity doesn’t come from fossil fuels. Electric propulsion can be part of a decarbonization strategy but is not universally suitable for all recreational boats.
Electric propulsion may make a meaningful reduction to the greening of the boating sector, but much depends on the use of the boat.
Hybrid boats using electric and internal combustion engines powered by liquid fuels can reduce carbon emissions in specific scenarios, namely boats used for extended periods and longer distances. Hybrid technology offers the most significant potential for emissions cuts for boats for rental or other intensive uses.
The report leads ICOMIA to these steps to build a sustainability strategy:
– Adopt a technology-neutral approach to decarbonizing marine environments.
– Accelerating development and distribution of sustainable marine fuels and consumer education campaigns about the transition to new fuels.
– Enrolling consumer safety and government support to let the marine industry set standards for marine electrical technology and consumer safety protocols.
– Expanding R&D tax credits and investments for more research on the energy density of electric batteries and hydrogen applied to the marine environment.
– Continued research into existing and emerging technologies and how best to apply them to the unique marine environment.
To support the report’s findings, ICOMIA has launched ‘Propelling Our Future,’ an international campaign to educate and advance the industry on research.
