Classification society DNV, Process Systems work out CO2 plan for ships

Classification society DNV, Process Systems work out CO2 plan for ships CLASSIFICATION society Det Norske Veritas and Process Systems Enterprise Ltd (PSE), a global provider of advanced process modelling technology, says they have developed a concept for chemical CO2 capture aboard ships.

"The results show that the concept is technically feasible and capable of reducing ship CO2 emissions by up to 65 per cent. For a VLCC tanker, this could correspond to capturing more than 70,000 tonnes of CO2 per year, transforming them from emissions to a tradable product," a statement issued by DNV said.

Said PSE managing director Costas Pantelides: "This has been a challenging design problem with tight constraints. Applying a model-based engineering approach has been key to exploring the process decision space rapidly and effectively, and developing technically feasible and economically viable solutions."

The system consists of a chemical absorption plant that separates CO2 from flue gases and a liquefaction unit where the captured CO2 is compressed and condensed using a refrigerant and two storage tanks. The storage tanks hold the liquid CO2 temporarily until discharge into transmission and storage infrastructures at the next suitable port.

"In response to more stringent environmental regulations and complex market conditions, we see an increased demand for innovative solutions towards higher efficiency and greener operations," says Nikolaos Kakalis, head of DNV research and innovation Greece.

"Our R&D activities, such as the carbon capture initiative which is completely new in the field of maritime transportation, pave the future towards next-generation solutions for achieving more energy-efficient, environmentally friendly and sustainable maritime transportation," he said.

Maritime CO2 emissions are estimated at over 1,000 million tonnes per year, or three per cent of total emissions, and are expected to reach 2,000-3,000 million tonnes by 2050.