Volume 4: Electric and Hybrid Power and Propulsion

Abstract

This report, part of the Technology Pathways to a Low Carbon Fishing Fleet series, explores the feasibility, benefits, and challenges of adopting electric and hybrid propulsion systems on commercial fishing vessels, as assessed through interviews with 148 fishing businesses across Alaska, the West Coast, and New England. It reviews the technological landscape, from pure battery-electric and hybrid-electric systems to diesel-electric setups, and synthesizes fishermen’s perspectives on each type of system.

By and large, fishermen interviewed expressed support for hybrid systems for their efficiency and redundancy but raised concerns about battery-only solutions, citing limitations in range, charging infrastructure, and power output. While acknowledging the appeal of certain benefits such as quiet operation and lower emissions, fishermen’s views on electric propulsion place greater weight on barriers like cost, weight, maintenance challenges, and concerns about the environmental impact of battery production, emphasizing the significance of these aspects as obstacles to adoption. The report highlights a need for further innovation, targeted incentives, and improved infrastructure to facilitate adoption of electric propulsion in fishing fleets, while also underscoring the fact that electric propulsion will not be appropriate or desirable for all fleets and vessels.