Decarbonising the Shipping Sector: A Critical Analysis on the Application of Waste Heat for Refrigeration in Fishing Vessels

The integration of sorption systems on-board fishing vessels has been explored in the last decade, but the limitations in power density and temperature levels achievable have hindered their application. In the present paper, the integration of hybrid sorption–compression systems was evaluated. Different shipping vessels and routes in seas and oceans were considered in the analysis, with engine powers from 190 kW to 500 kW. The feasibility of series and cascade configurations was studied and the possible benefits, in terms of fuel and CO2 savings, were evaluated. The analysis, which also considered the payload due to the extra fuel needed to transport the equipment for refrigeration, showed that up to 75% savings can be obtained, with CO2 emissions avoided up to 20 t/y.