Bureau Veritas assesses technical viability of carbon capture tech

Bureau Veritas (BV) has released a report which assesses the technical viability of current carbon capture & storage (CCS) technology within the marine market.

The technology report, titled Onboard Carbon Capture: An Overview of Technologies to Capture CO2 Onboard Ships, details the current state of play regarding a wide range of emerging CCS technologies. The paper explores the technical and commercial viability of implementing CCS technology onboard vessels, highlighting the results from key feasibility studies that showed achievable capture rates between 82% and 90%.

The report also details the challenges to the wider adoption and integration of CCS technologies, such as regulatory frameworks that are yet to be consolidated at a global level, as well as from an operational perspective. Concerns have been raised regarding the available space onboard vessels to accommodate CCS technologies, as well as the safe handling of CO2 onboard.

Carbon capture technologies provide flexibility to the shipping industry by reducing emissions while sustainable fuels become more available.

Technological options for capturing CO2 vary according to the process stage and separation method.

Post-combustion carbon capture using amine solvents is the most mature method and the benchmark for other carbon capture options.

Additional assessments are needed for the impact of impurities during CO2 handling and the effect on ship stability.

Onboard carbon capture should be assessed within the overall CCUS value chain, considering CO2 handling and disposal infrastructure, CO2 storage site availability, and storage conditions.

Some companies are developing technologies to capture carbon in alternative forms, such as solid graphite or calcium carbonate (limestone), which may be easier to handle or represent another revenue source.

Carbon capture technology offers several benefits to the shipping industry but is not a silver-bullet solution.

Carbon capture must be used alongside other decarbonization strategies to achieve emissions reduction goals.

While alternative fuels are generally seen as the key to ushering in a new era of sustainable shipping, the BV report recognizes that the role of carbon capture technologies in decarbonizing the maritime sector cannot be overlooked.

The paper also outlines the significant role that shipping can play in facilitating the development of a global carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) value chain as a major mode of CO2 transportation, particularly given the growing interest in offshore CO2 storage sites. Globally, some 230 million metric tons of CO2 are already used in industrial applications every year, including in the production of fertilizers, steel, and food and beverages.

 When assessing the feasibility of carbon capture technology onboard vessels, it is vital to do so within the context of the entire CCUS value chain, taking into account the potential challenges related to the management of the captured CO2. With sufficient regulations and infrastructure in place, the maritime industry could benefit from the development of a truly circular CO2 economy, whilst contributing to the industry’s ambitious decarbonization targets.