Nuclear-derived e-fuels could shape the future of sustainable shipping

November 11, 2024, by Naida Hakirevic Prevljak

The maritime industry’s transition to net-zero emissions will require more than alternative fuels—it demands a rethinking of the energy systems that support fuel production, a new white paper stressed.

The UK-based technology innovation company Core Power examined in its latest white paper “Powering Progress: E-Fuels for Sustainable Shipping” the alternative marine fuel landscape, demonstrating why advanced nuclear technology, particularly when deployed in floating power plants, is uniquely positioned to scale electrofuel (e-fuel) production for maritime decarbonization.

As explained, a complete decarbonization of the maritime industry needs to address both emissions reduction and energy efficiency improvements. Core Power considers propulsion using advanced nuclear reactors as the optimal, zero-emission alternative to the industry’s current dependency on fossil fuels. However, for smaller vessels where direct nuclear propulsion is not viable, the combustion of e-fuels derived from hydrogen is also a possible pathway to decarbonization.

Several types of e-fuels are currently under consideration as potential solutions for maritime decarbonization. They include e-ammonia, e-methanol, e-diesel, and e-methane.

Specifically, e-fuels are synthetic liquid fuels created through industrial processes that use electricity to drive chemical reactions, converting basic components like water and carbon dioxide (CO2) into products that can replace conventional fossil fuels. The term e-fuel is generally reserved for fuels that have been produced using electrolytic hydrogen, that is, hydrogen produced by splitting water using electricity through a process known as electrolysis.

According to the UK-based firm, transitioning to e-fuels produced using either green or pink hydrogen is essential for advancing maritime decarbonization. Nuclear-powered hydrogen production is said to offer particular advantages through enhanced process efficiency, especially when nuclear plant heat is integrated into the electrolysis process. This approach also capitalizes on nuclear technologies’ “continuous, reliable, and safe” energy production capabilities.

When deployed as floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs), these benefits extend further: the technology enables on-site production of freshwater feedstock through seawater desalination while offering flexible deployment to match production with demand. This combination of features, alongside zero-emission power generation at an industrial scale, makes FNPPs particularly well-suited for large-scale hydrogen production, Core Power said.

The industrial production of e-fuels demands enormous amounts of electrical energy. Current projections indicate that by 2050, e-fuel production alone will require approximately 20,000 TWh per year.

The new analysis has shown that nuclear power is a power source that is reliable, dispatchable, and carbon-neutral.

“When produced using this technology, e-fuels achieve EROI values that exceed even those of traditional shipping fuels. This positions nuclear-derived e-fuels as both environmentally and economically viable alternatives to HFO and LNG,” Core Power pointed out.

Floating nuclear power plants are said to offer “a practical pathway” to realizing this potential. Their modular construction, flexible siting options, and integrated production capabilities address the key challenges of scaling e-fuel production.

“By providing reliable, carbon-neutral power generation precisely where needed, FNPPs can help transform maritime e-fuels from a promising concept into a scalable reality,” Core Power concluded.