Alternative Fuels and Fuel Flexibility
Cruise lines are heavily investing in flexible propulsion systems and alternative energy sources, such as green methanol, biofuels, hydrogen, solar, and batteries, to enable the widespread adoption of low- and zero-emission fuels in the coming years.
Setting the Standard: Cruising Toward Sustainability: Alternative Fuels and Flexible Technologies
Cruise lines are actively investing billions in sustainable and adaptable propulsion technologies, allowing future use of low- to zero-emission fuels such as green methanol, bioLNG, hydrogen, solar, battery storage, and wind energy. In the next five years, a significant portion of new ships will be equipped for alternative or hybrid fuels, with several already using renewable biofuels, and multiple vessels scheduled to operate on green methanol or hydrogen.
Ships
More than 15%
of cruise ships entering service in the next five years will be equipped with battery storage
Ships
5
new-build ships are anticipated to run on low or zero carbon fuels, including five ships envisioned to use green methanol and two envisioned to use green hydrogen
Ships
24
at least 24 ships have been engaged in biofuel trials and two in synthetic carbon fuels trials led by the cruise lines with fuel producers
Powering the Future: Cruise Lines Embrace Sustainable Fuels
Cruise lines are pursuing a variety of new and more sustainable alternative energy sources and investing in propulsion technologies with conversion capabilities that are easily adaptable for the use of low- to zero-emissions fuels once they become available at scale.
- The cruise industry is investing billions in new ships and engines that allow for fuel flexibility to use low to zero-GHG fuels, once available at scale, with little to no engine modification.
- These fuels and energy sources include green methanol, bioLNG and synthetic LNG, hydrogen fuel cells, photovoltaic/solar (in use on five ships today), battery storage, wind.
- An increasing number of vessels sailing and launching over the next five years will either use alternative fuels or be able to incorporate zero-carbon fuels once available at scale.
- Within the next five years, seven new-build ships are anticipated to run on low or zero carbon fuels, including five ships envisioned to use green methanol and two envisioned to use green hydrogen.
- More than 15% of cruise ships entering service in the next five years will be equipped with battery storage to allow for hybrid power generation once available.
- Within the CLIA member fleet, four ships sailing today use renewable biofuel as an energy source and four new-build ships are expected to be configured for renewable biofuels, and at least 24 ships have been engaged in biofuel trials and two in synthetic carbon fuels trials led by the cruise lines with fuel producers.
- Seven new-build ships are anticipated to run on zero carbon fuels, including five ships envisioned to use green methanol and two envisioned to use green hydrogen.
Liquified Natural Gas (LNG), BioLNG, and Synthetic LNG
Anticipating the IMO emissions limits standard on SOx and NOx, cruise lines have invested significantly in vessels powered by Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) for the last ten years. In 2018, AIDAnova became the first 100% LNG-powered cruise ship and 15 LNG ships are now in operation (eight in the Carnival Corporation fleet) with 13 more ships on order industrywide until 2028. Based on analyses by SeaLNG and others, LNG is currently the fossil fuel available at scale that has the best performance in reducing atmospheric emissions. LNG has virtually zero sulphur emissions and particulate emissions, reduces NOx emissions by approximately 85%, and achieves up to a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
Yielding benefits now in eliminating PMs and SOx emissions, LNG technology offers a pathway to future fuels and propulsion technologies being developed for use at scale.
Ships designed with LNG engines and fuel supply systems will be able to switch to more sustainable alternative fuels such as bio or synthetic LNG in the future, with little or no modifications. The LNG engine technology and infrastructure of today offers a clear pathway to sustainable cruising in the future.
