I write about this subject once or twice a year. Weaning maritime applications from diesel fuel to mitigate climate change will be a tough job, but a necessary one. Probably the initial drop-in solutions will involve biodiesel or some other green fuel. Using an electric power-plant will require some significant changes to vessel’s design but may be the ultimate solution.
There are two approaches to electrification: battery-electric, and hydrogen-fuel-cell electric. The bad news about the former is that batteries are heavy, have limited energy-storage and need a long full-recharge time. Using hydrogen fuel-cells increases the energy storage, but this comes with its own challenges, as described in this article.
