Decarbonisation Technology - August 2024 Issue

footprint of the emerging fleet and its impact on the overall reduction of GHG emissions in the value chain. While LNG has been chosen as the fuel for some of these vessels currently under construction, there are potentially alternative solutions, such as using ammonia and methanol or installing onboard carbon capture systems for vessels powered by traditional fossil fuels. The latter option can be particularly interesting since these vessels will be equipped with a CO 2 handling system, and maybe their access to the CO 2 receiving terminals will facilitate the offloading. Developing onboard carbon capture Existing CCS technologies are largely employed in shore-based applications. These technology platforms need to be marinised for shipboard application and in a way that balances effective performance against Capex, Opex, and additional fuel consumption. Onboard CCS reduces GHG emissions from ships by capturing and storing the CO2 produced onboard. This can be done either before or after the combustion process, using different methods and the captured carbon can be stored onboard in different ways, depending on the technology used. Two potential onboard carbon storage methodologies are:  Liquefaction: The CO 2 is compressed and cooled to form a liquid, which can be stored in tanks or cylinders onboard and can be transferred to shore facilities or other vessels.  Mineralisation: CO 2 is reacted with minerals to form solid carbonates, which can be stored in containers. ABS is currently working with vendors and shipowners to understand how this emerging technology can be adapted and absorbed into the maritime industry, its implications for vessel design and operations, and its likely impact on carbon emission reduction. Onboard CCS application challenges There are several challenges associated with onboard CCS, which include the high cost and complexity of the value chain, which involves multiple actors and stages such as CO 2 capture, storage, transport, injection, and monitoring. Each stage has its own technical,

operational, and safety requirements that require attention. The value chain that will handle and store ever-larger volumes of carbon is still in the development phase; large-scale storage and processing capacity will be required. For onboard CCS to scale sufficiently, the shipping industry will need to collaborate with other stakeholders in order to establish the required infrastructure and agreements. Stronger regulation is needed to create a long-term pathway against which owners can invest. Additionally, the public’s perception and acceptance of CCS are influenced by their awareness and understanding of the benefits and risks of the technology. ABS activities ABS has been working with global shipping organisations on joint development projects (JDPs) to showcase the safety and feasibility of using onboard CCS. We take a technology- neutral approach, working with vendors and stakeholders across the supply chain to provide Approvals in Principle and New Technology Qualifications to validate concepts and encourage full-scale pilots. We expect the first systems to be potentially available next year. Additionally, ABS is collaborating with universities and research institutes to explore the potential of various carbon capture technologies for marine and offshore applications. ABS is dedicated to supporting the decarbonisation of the shipping industry and advancing the development of onboard carbon capture as one potential solution. ABS has established a set of guidelines to direct the maritime industry on how to apply carbon capture technology. These guidelines also comprise an optional ‘CCS-Ready’ notation for vessels based on their level of preparation or readiness for future installations. LCO 2 sector development The CO 2 shipping market is in a nascent phase, and the potential trading patterns for LCO2 carriers are expected to start emerging once the location of sequestration and utilisation projects becomes clearer. A quantitative estimation of how much LCO2 would be transported by shipping is thus difficult, but the distribution of