“Natural gas fuels reduce air quality pollutants substantially”
The Washington-based U.S. Department of Maritime Administration (MARAD) recently released a study that evaluates total fuel cycle emissions for natural gas versus conventional marine fuels. This study was conducted as a part of MARAD’s Maritime Environmental & Technology Assistance program, which focuses efforts on emerging marine transportation and environmental issues.
Results of the study — Natural Gas for Waterborne Freight Transport: A Life Cycle Emissions Assessment with Case Studies — showed that the use of natural gas as a propulsion fuel can reduce air quality pollutants and reduce major greenhouse gas emissions when compared to conventional fuels: “We find that total fuel cycle analyses for maritime case studies show that natural gas fuels reduce air quality pollutants substantially, and reduce major greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions slightly when compared to conventional marine fuels (low-sulfur and high-sulfur petroleum).” (from Abstract)
The information provided by this study is important as marine transportation stakeholders evaluate the use of natural gas as a viable alternative propulsion fuel for reducing air polluting emissions. The research was conducted through a cooperative partnership with the Maritime Administration, the University of Delaware and The Rochester Institute of Technology.
The study can be viewed on the MARAD website, at www.marad.dot.gov/documents/Total_Fuel_Cycle_Analysis_for_LNG.pdf
(Source: MARAD)