In an unprecedented event, at least as far as records show, a Norwegian ship captures and stores its CO2. This was announced by local authorities who celebrated the news.
The shipowner announced that they modified one of their ships to turn it into “the first in the world” equipped with a large-scale carbon capture and storage system.
The goal is to reduce emissions of one of the most harmful greenhouse gases.
The ship that captures and stores its CO2
Powered by heavy fuel oil, a fuel criticized for its high emissions of sulfur, fine particles, and carbon dioxide, the “Clipper Eris” is expected to reduce its GHG emissions by up to 70%.
How CO2 capture works.
According to its owner, the Solvang group. During a technical update carried out in shipyards in Singapore, they equipped the ship (an ethylene carrier measuring 160 meters) with an exhaust gas scrubber system that allows capturing CO2.
This CO2 is later liquefied and stored in tanks onboard, with the intention of being buried and confined in geological layers or reused for industrial purposes.
“One of the most promising solutions”
“Carbon capture onboard, combined with existing cleaning technologies, represents a significant step towards the decarbonization of the international maritime fleet,” highlighted Solvang’s CEO, Edvin Endresen, in a statement.
“This appears as one of the most promising solutions for the ships of the future,” he added.
Maritime transport is responsible for between 2% and 3% of total global emissions. However, its decarbonization is a challenge due to technological obstacles and the international nature of the sector, which complicates regulation.
Member States of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a strategy to reduce the net greenhouse gas emissions from international maritime transport by 20-30% by 2030, 70-80% by 2040.
The goal is to reach net zero around 2050. The technology of “onboard carbon capture and storage” (OCCS) is still in an experimental phase.
Solvang assures that seven of the ships it currently has under construction can be equipped with this system. It is also worth noting that the project was partially funded with Norwegian public funds.
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