Towards sustainable maritime transport: Focus on the early phase of technology development related to alternative fuels

Abstract

Transition towards sustainable maritime transport and the move away from fossil fuels is one of the greatest challenges faced by this industry today. This paper aims to evaluate technological advances in alternative fuels and energy sources-related technologies in maritime transport. Data from patent databases was analysed to assess that research issue. A comparative analysis of ten types of alternative fuels/energy sources in maritime transport was conducted in the context of technology potential and technology S-curve. Identifying the current status of technological knowledge is necessary for planning and conducting an effective research policy. The results show that the patent-based maturity rate of alternative maritime fuels/energy sources varies between 26.4 % and 91.7 % of the saturation level of current invention curves fitted separately for each fuel type using a logistic curve model. Biofuels, wind, and LNG are characterised by the highest patent-based maturity rates. In accordance with the concept of successive S-curves in technology development, wind and biofuels-based technologies in particular can be expected to change their shape of the invention curve. Among zero-emission fuels, technologies based on methanol, ammonia, battery, and hydrogen require further urgent intensive research work. Achieving the right level of technology maturity for all alternative fuels is essential for business entities to decide freely about choosing the best ones for investments in the maritime industry.