This paper was born to introduce a novel methodology termed Live-Life Cycle Assessment using a simulation-based data generation technique that can remedy the inherent shortcomings of conventional practices of lifecycle assessment. To demonstrate its excellence, the proposed method was applied to one of the most challenging topics in the marine industry. That was to tackle the fundamental doubt of whether solar-electric propulsion ships coul. This paper was born to introduce a novel methodology termed Live-Life Cycle Assessment using a simulation-based data generation technique that can remedy the inherent shortcomings of conventional practices of lifecycle assessment. To demonstrate its excellence, the proposed method was applied to one of the most challenging topics in the marine industry. That was to tackle the fundamental doubt of whether solar-electric propulsion ships could truly be the future energy solution of maritime transports by fulfilling new environmental conventions and goals around the world. The case study began with an existing hybrid short route ferry running on diesel and plug-in battery power. Credible PV systems for the case ship was modelled to produce ship performance data under various operational/environmental circumstances of the coastal zones across 29 countries in the platform of MATLAB/Simulink. As a key functionality of Live-Life Cycle Assessment, the produced data was directly fed, as inputs, into life cycle assessment to avoid conventional practices that heavily rely on outdated data libraries. Results of the case study clearly revealed and quantified the correlations of the performance of PV-battery systems with climate parameters such as temperature and irradiance of subject areas as well as national power production methods. For example, in terms of Global Warming Potential, the case ship with the PV system was estimated to reduce 40,812 kg CO2 eq. per year in Brazil (average temp.: 27.4 ℃, major energy s. ••Lifecycle benefits/harms of solar/electric ships were demystified quantitatively.••Live-Life Cycle Assessment was introduced to overcome the lack of data available.••Environmental performance of solar ships was subject to geographical conditions.••Green electric grids were suggested to contribute to net zero-emission shipping.Life Cycle AssessmentLive LCAElectric propulsion shipSolar PVLLCADecarbonising shippingAMPAlternative Maritime PowerAPAcidification PotentialCH4MethaneCICold-ironingCOCarbon MonoxideCO21.1. Maritime environmental concernsWorldwide trade has increased dramatically during the last centuries, paralleling the continuous growth of global GDP, as illustrated in Fig. 1 (a) and (b),. Given that the waterborne transportation accounts for approximately 90% of worldwide trade,,,, the number and size of marine vessels have also significantly grown during the same period of time (see Fig. 1 (c) and Fig. 1 (d)),. As a result, shipping has become the fourth-largest sector contributing to climate change: about 14% of world greenhouse gases (GHGs) are produced from shipping activities. According to the data compiled from 2007 to 2018, the world shipping has produced around 3 % of CO2 emissions, as well as approximately 15% and 13% of global NOx and SOx emissions, respectively,.1.2. Holistic environmental impacts of PV electric shipsElectric propulsion ships using novel electric technologies - such as batteries, solar panels, fuel cells - have drawn great attention and expanded their share into the shipping market gradually. As recognised green maritime solutions,, those ships are believed to be able to respond to the current deman.
