Analysis and optimal planning of nuclear-renewable hybrid energy systems for ships

Abstract

Ocean-going ships are one of the sources of global GHG emissions. Several actions are being taken to reduce the GHG emissions from maritime vessels, and integration of Renewable Energy Sources (RESs) is one of them. Due to some limitations, RESs are not suitable for large ships and often mix with fossil fuel-based generators. Fossil fuel-based generators need to be replaced by emissions-free energy sources to make marine ships free from emissions. Nuclear energy is emissions-free, and small-scale nuclear reactors like Microreactors (MRs) have the potential to replace fossil fuel-based generators. In this study, the technical, economic, and environmental competitiveness of Nuclear-Renewable Hybrid Energy Systems (N-R HES) in marine ships are assessed. The results determine that N-R HES has the lowest NPC compared to the other conventional energy systems. A sensitivity analysis is carried out to see the impact of different system parameters on this study's findings.