News / LNG ships likely worse for the environment than HFO, says latest research

Despite an explosion of orders, a mounting body of research has revealed that switching to LNG-powered ships might be worse than doing nothing to cut emissions.

And the news has ignited a fierce debate, likely to dominate the IMO’s June MEPC78.

Some 57% of newbuild orders in Q1 were for LNG-powered ships, but the fuel appears to be falling into disfavour.

Countries are now proposing that GWP20 – the indicator of greenhouse emissions’ global warming potential over a span of 20 years – be taken into consideration, as well as GWP100 –for 100 years.

The distinction is important, because newly emitted atmospheric methane (CH₄) from LNG begins to degrade into CO₂ after 20 years – but not before it has incurred 86 times as much global warming effect as the equivalent volume of CO₂.

A study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), submitted as evidence by the Solomon Islands, Pacific Environment and Inuit Circumpolar Council, shows CO₂ emission savings of as much as 0.5 grams per gram of fuel burned are available with LNG, versus HFO.

However, according to its emissions profile of CO_2, “equivalent” greenhouse gases over a 20-year period (CO₂e20), this gain appears to be completely lost by an increase of CO₂e per gram of as much as 3.771 grams, in switching from HFO to LNG propulsion. On a 100-year basis, (CO₂e100), this increase amounts to as much as 1.229 grams per gram of fuel burned.

LNG’s well-to-tank CO₂ emissions are slightly higher than those of HFO, and its well-to-tank methane emissions are almost quadrupled, according to the study. Land-based LNG infrastructure is known to leak, which could account for some of these figures.

“Comparing the three metrics [CO2, CO₂e20 and CO₂e100], one can see that focusing solely on CO_2, ignoring other climate pollutants, can significantly underestimate climate pollution from maritime transport,” the study’s authors wrote.

“We suggest policymakers consider not only CO₂e100, but also CO₂e20 for policies intended to be aligned with the Paris Agreement.”

ICCT

However, interest group Sea-LNG recently decried “sensationalist claims” by LNG’s opponents, citing the results of a study by Sphera. It compares, on a well-to-wake basis, 0.5% sulphur fuel oil (VLSFO) with LNG, identifying a 23% decrease in CO₂e per kWh of engine output (the study does not appear to take CO₂e20 into account).

The Sphera study does measure well-to-tank emissions however, and finds that for HFO, the figure is 14.1g CO2e per megajoule; for VLSFO0.5 it is 14g CO2e/MJ; for MGO0.1, it is 14.9g; and for LNG, the figure is somewhat higher at 17.7g.

Sea-LNG chairman Peter Keller said methane slip represented “an overused argument for those wishing to justify inaction” and added that by 2030, he believes, it will have been “virtually eliminated”.

Sea-LNG also pointed out that it may in due course be possible to switch to bio-LNG – a close-to-carbon-neutral drop in replacement for LNG, and a recourse for owners already saddled with fleets of LNG-fuelled ships.

Sphera