Marine fuel choices and related life-cycle environmental impacts under global shipping policies
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Environmental and Energy Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Gothenburg, Sweden
- 2Chalmers University of Technology
- 3CHALMERS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
- 4Department of Sustainable Society, IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute, Gothenburg, Sweden
- 5IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute
Abstract
Policies can drive the energy transition in the shipping sector, which accounts for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Various shipping policies are explored using a sector-coupled global energy system model with a detailed shipping module and considering environmental impacts from a life cycle perspective. While the proposed 'IMO net-zero framework' drives biofuel use, it may not be adequate for the broader adoption of low-carbon fuels required to achieve net-zero emissions targets. A combined levy and global fuel standards mechanism could accelerate the uptake of low-carbon fuels, as compared to the proposed IMO policy. In most policies, ammonia is a cost-effective fuel for ships, whereas electrification is preferred for vessels with the possibility to bunker daily. Ammonia derived from bioenergy with carbon capture, yielding negative emissions, and e-ammonia, are crucial to reach global climate targets. This energy transition risks having other environmental impacts, including land use and mineral resource depletion.
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BibTeX
@article{kanchiralla2026marine,
title = {{Marine fuel choices and related life-cycle environmental impacts under global shipping policies}},
author = {Fayas Malik Kanchiralla and Selma Brynolf and Julia Hansson and Maria Grahn},
journal = {Nature Energy},
year = {2026},
month = may,
doi = {10.1038/s41560-026-02079-6},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-026-02079-6},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Marine fuel choices and related life-cycle environmental impacts under global shipping policies
AU - Fayas Malik Kanchiralla
AU - Selma Brynolf
AU - Julia Hansson
AU - Maria Grahn
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/05/29
JO - Nature Energy
DO - 10.1038/s41560-026-02079-6
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41560-026-02079-6
AB - Policies can drive the energy transition in the shipping sector, which accounts for 3% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Various shipping policies are explored using a sector-coupled global energy system model with a detailed shipping module and considering environmental impacts from a life cycle perspective. While the proposed 'IMO net-zero framework' drives biofuel use, it may not be adequate for the broader adoption of low-carbon fuels required to achieve net-zero emissions targets. A combined levy and global fuel standards mechanism could accelerate the uptake of low-carbon fuels, as compared to the proposed IMO policy. In most policies, ammonia is a cost-effective fuel for ships, whereas electrification is preferred for vessels with the possibility to bunker daily. Ammonia derived from bioenergy with carbon capture, yielding negative emissions, and e-ammonia, are crucial to reach global climate targets. This energy transition risks having other environmental impacts, including land use and mineral resource depletion.
SN - 2058-7546
ER -