Solar photovoltaic systems for the Short Sea Shipping’s compliance with decarbonization regulations in the European Union

Abstract

Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) regulation came into force In January 2023 as one of the main International Maritime Organization’s measures to reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG). Short Sea Shipping (SSS) demand significant electricity supply by reaching up to 30% of total on-board power. This paper addresses SSS-fleet compliance with CII regulation, Market and Goal-Based Measures imposed by the European Union (EU) through solar photovoltaic systems (PV) for on-board electricity production. The paper analyses the techno-economic feasibility of this solution from the shipowners’ standpoint in the medium-term. To meet this aim, a SSS Car-carrier between Canary Islands and Iberian Peninsula is assessed by simulating PV performance, vessel’s technical implications, and economic consequences of GHG mitigation in the context of the EU. The results reveal that PV reduces fuel consumption for electricity generation by 15.5% by reducing the total CO2 emissions by 3.38%. Although this improvement is not substantial enough to change the CII score of the vessel, the Internal Rate of Return of the PV investment achieved 55% for 10 years with three years as payback period. This fact along with the robustness of the results achieved suggest PV system is a promising mitigation option for SSS vessels.