Do battery and fuel cell systems have the potential to reduce vessel life cycle emissions? - A comparative LCA study for a Norwegian coastal fishing vessel

This study uses comparative life cycle assessment to compare the life cycle impacts of three power systems for a 10.5-m Norwegian gillnet fishing vessel: a conventional diesel-mechanical (DMS), a diesel-battery parallel hybrid (PHS), and a hydrogen fuel cell-battery series hybrid (SHS) system. Results show that direct emissions are dominated by combustion-related impacts, while component manufacturing drives toxicity and resource categories. The PHS reduces global warming potential (GWP) by 28%, and the SHS by up to 91% compared to the DMS when powered by low-carbon electricity and green hydrogen from electrolysis in Norway. However, both alternatives shift burdens toward manufacturing-related impact categories. Sensitivity analysis highlights the critical role of electricity and hydrogen supply pathways: fossil-based inputs can erase benefits, while localised low-carbon electrolysis enables slight improvements. The findings stress that battery and fuel cell systems can reduce fishing vessel emissions meaningfully only when coupled with clean energy supply chains. • Comparative LCA of power system alternatives for a coastal fishing vessel. • Hybrid battery–diesel cuts life-cycle GWP by about 28%. • Fuel cell–battery hybrid lowers GWP by up to 91% with clean energy. • Results hinge on electricity mix and hydrogen supply pathways. • Manufacturing adds toxicity and resource use trade-offs.