A new carbon capture technology has been proposed for CO2 reduction in the shipping industry. It uses cryogenic tech to capture carbon dioxide from ships and turn it into a liquid which results in less CO2 storage space needed.
Norway’s TECO 2030 ASA – an engineering and equipment company and the US-based Chart Industries – a manufacturer in the clean energy industry, signed an agreement to jointly develop technological carbon capture and storage solutions. The two carbon capture companies are working on the new concept to eliminate the CO2 emissions that would otherwise be released into the air.
The cryogenic technology used in the concept is developed by Sustainable Energy Solutions – an energy consultancy company, acquired by Chart Industries in December 2020. The process works by separating the CO2 from the ships’ exhaust gases.
Through cryogenic technology the gases are converted into a high purity liquid CO2 product. The product is then stored onboard until it reaches land. It can be later sequestered permanently underground or sold to other companies for utilization.
Issues The New Carbon Capture Technology Solves
One of the problems that the solution overcomes is the space issue. The storing of CO2 on board requires space that isn’t always available on ships. According to the companies, for each ton of fossil fuel consumed by a ship, three tons of CO2 is produced. The technology for liquification reduces the space required for the CO2 to be transported.
“We believe carbon capture for ships will become one of several measures needed for the shipping industry to reach global decarbonization goals,” said Stian Aakre, CEO of TECO 2030.
TECO 2030 also plans to combine the cryogenic technology for CCS on ships with an exhaust gas cleaning system for vessels developed by them. The company believes this system will provide a versatile solution for ship owners and operators.
There are new ways in development that address some of the most pressing challenges related to achieving net zero economy by 2050. The new carbon capture technology proposed by the two companies is a step forward towards the decarbonization of the shipping industry.
