China's Electrification of the Shipping Fleet The First Green Harbor Tugboat With a Hybrid Drive is Operating in Qingdao

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With innovative solutions, China is working on the decarbonization of its shipping fleet. A few days ago, it was the tugboats' turn; those highly powered workhorses that guide ocean giants into and out of ports.

On June 26, the hydrogen-electric tugboat "Qing Dian Tuo 1" was put into operation at the port of Qingdao. The vessel, which derives power for its two massive electric motors from both lithium batteries and fuel cells, is not only the first of its kind in China but also "a world first," reports the newspaper "China Daily." Externally, from a distance, the tug is hardly distinguishable from other boats of its type. The ship is 39 meters long (approx. 130 ft), 11 meters wide (approx. 35 ft), has a draft of 4.2 meters (approx. 14 ft), and weighs 167 tons.

Only in the engine room does it become clear that this is one of China's first "green tugboats," which operates entirely without fossil fuels thanks to its hybrid drive. The boat will now save 1,500 tons of CO₂ emissions annually compared to conventional tugboats, according to its manufacturer, "CSSC Ship Electric Technology (Wuxi) Co., Ltd.," in a press release.

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The liquid-cooled lithium batteries of the ship have an impressive total capacity of more than 7,838 kWh and can be recharged at the harbor quay. Additionally, hydrogen-powered fuel cells are on board. These are less about extending range and more about providing additional power whenever needed. Together, this hybrid ship propulsion system powers two electric drive motors with a total of 5,200 kW.

The boat not only operates emission-free but also offers "significant advantages in noise control, equipment lifespan, and energy efficiency," writes CSSC. It can run quietly and without diesel fumes for 12 hours at a speed of nine knots, while delivering a towing capacity of 82 tons, the manufacturer states.

This debut of the first hydrogen-electric tugboat is interesting for two reasons. On the one hand, it once again demonstrates how serious China is about electrifying its shipping fleet in stages or equipping it with other alternative, green propulsion systems. China is a global leader in generating alternative energy with solar panels, wind turbines, and other technologies. Furthermore, the country represents a strategically important hub for global shipping. Consequently, this commitment to achieving global climate goals is no small matter.

On the other hand, the tugboat in Qingdao is another example of how important the development of its hydrogen economy is for China, which is being steadily advanced across all industrial sectors. China is already by far the world's largest market for hydrogen. Nevertheless, in June, the national energy authority in Beijing released a new plan to significantly scale up the production, infrastructure, and concrete applications nationwide (tugboats and other port infrastructure being just one of countless examples).

Full Speed Ahead With Hydrogen

Similar to the green tugboat in Qingdao, there will now be even more pilot projects across the People's Republic. These include numerous large electrolysis plants for hydrogen production with a capacity of at least 100 MW. For comparison: the largest facility of this type in Europe currently is operated by BASF in Germany with a capacity of 54 MW. In addition, there are further projects for massive hydrogen storage and for industrial applications of all kinds, whether in factories, port basins, or transport by rail or road.

To avoid misunderstandings: China is, of course, not relying solely on hydrogen or fuel cells for decarbonizing its shipping fleet. Innovations of various kinds are being employed. Fuel cells are part of the mix, but there is no fixation on a single or just a few technologies. For example, since late June this year, the first 100 percent ammonia-powered boat has been operating on Lake Chaohu in eastern China. It has a combustion engine that runs entirely on NH₃, significantly reducing carbon dioxide emissions compared to diesel-powered ship engines.

Another example: near Shanghai, pilot tests are underway in which the carbon dioxide captured on board large container ships is being repurposed, as the industry portal Offshore Energy recently reported. The liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO₂) is transported 2,000 kilometers (approx. 1,240 miles) from a pier in Zhoushan (China) to a steel plant in Inner Mongolia, where it is used to produce low-carbon calcium carbonate, which in turn is used to create eco-friendly building materials.

Green Methanol

An essential technological route for emissions reduction in China's shipping sector is also the use of green methanol. Most of the world's container ships and other ocean giants still run on diesel, and many of them are built in China's shipyards. However, by 2050, the use of traditional fuels on the world's oceans could drop to 15 percent, while the use of methanol is expected to rise to 42 percent, according to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). In this area as well, China is positioning itself as a provider of new technologies and is testing them in pilot projects.

The hydrogen-electric harbor tug in Qingdao is yet another pilot project. It aims to test whether the use of hydrogen and fuel cells can help make ports across China and their infrastructure on land and in harbor basins more environmentally friendly. If the "Qing Dian Tuo 1" proves successful, similar hybrid tugs will likely soon be deployed in many of China's more than 2,000 commercial ports. China's shipyards would then also have another product excellently suited for export to offer. (sb)

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