Assessing economic viability of fuel cell and battery hybrid propulsion in recreational boats: incorporating degradation rate in batteries

Korkmaz, S. A., Konur, O., Erginer, K. E. and Colpan, C. O. (2023) Assessing economic viability of fuel cell and battery hybrid propulsion in recreational boats: incorporating degradation rate in batteries. 14th International Conference on Thermal Engineering: Theory and Applications, Yalova Üniversitesi, Yalova, Turkey. 25 - 27 May 2023.

Abstract

The maritime sector has been exploring hybrid fuel cell/battery systems as an alternative solution to reduce exhaust gas emissions in compliance with regulations from the International Maritime Organization (IMO). This study presents a system model that incorporates fuel cells and batteries and simulates the entire hybrid system for low-power boats. The results show the reduction in range due to battery degradation at the end of the system's lifetime, with reduction ratios ranging from 0.21% to 10% depending on the scenario. The electricity production costs with green hydrogen utilization are higher than using shore electricity, but blue and grey hydrogen utilization show potential for reducing fuel costs. The FC utilization increases the range of the boat, leading to reduced electricity production costs in configurations where hydrogen is the supplementary energy source. Grey hydrogen utilization shows promising economic results compared to shore electricity, with a break-even cost of 2.167 $/kg. However, further comprehensive economic analyses considering levelized energy costs and payback periods of fuel cells are necessary. Overall, this study highlights the potential benefits and challenges of integrating fuel cells and batteries in hybrid systems for maritime applications.

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Contributors

Author: S. A. Korkmaz

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