Editor’s note: DNV on 9 July published a new class notation to enable hydrogen vessels and on-board carbon capture. The latest information can be found here.

With the recent release of its latest whitepaper, classification society DNV sheds light on the potential of Onboard Carbon Capture Storage particularly in Asia, highlights the growing interest in it among shipowners and what needs to happen to encourage its wider adoption:

By Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria
VP, Regional Manager – South East Asia, Pacific & India, Maritime at DNV

The International Energy Agency (IEA) says that to achieve the 1.5°C global warming limit set by the Paris Agreement, we need to capture 7.6 billion tons of CO2 annually by 2050. (Ref 1)

In its July 2023 update, the Global CCS Institute (GCCSI) mentioned that current Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects cover about 50 megatons of CO2 annually. This implies that from 2023 to 2050, CCS capacity must increase at least 100 times to capture the projected 7.6 billion tons of CO2. (Ref 2)

DNV sees strong potential for Onboard Carbon Capture Storage – or OCCS- an area it is actively engaged in with industry players to put to the test.

Cristina Saenz de Santa Maria, DNV

OCCS outlook in Asia

In its latest white paper about OCCS, DNV sets out to provide guidance to shipowners, technology providers, and other stakeholders on central matters related to OCCS. (Ref 3)

It makes it clear from the start that OCCS is key among all other efforts to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping, in addition to improving energy efficiency and switching to carbon-neutral fuels.

Capturing the CO2 produced by carbon-based fuels and utilizing it, or storing it underground, is important for the maritime industry if it is to get anywhere near the IEA targets or meeting IMO goals for emissions reductions:  to reduce the total annual GHG emissions from international shipping by at least 20%, striving for 30%, by 2030, compared to 2008. (Ref 4)

One industry voice which updates us on CCS activities in Asia (as well as Europe) is Jasper Heikens, CCO at ECOLOG, a mid-stream CO2 service company.

He points out that one of the drivers to undertake CCS is that industries in Asia will need to adhere to the EU’s forthcoming Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) if they wish to sell their products into the EU.

Mr Heikens thinks Asia will emerge as the biggest CO2 shipping market, because Japan and Korea have very limited storage capacity and will need to transport their CO2 over greater distances than the EU to, for example, Malaysia, Indonesia, or Australia. (Ref 5)

In March this year, the Singapore based Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonization (GCMD) released its landmark study on offloading onboard captured carbon dioxide and identified low port readiness as key barrier to large-scale commercialisation:

• Infrastructure and procedures for handling captured carbon dioxide (CO2) at ports are currently inadequate,
• Defining clear pathways to offload, utilise, and/ or sequester CO2, is crucial for large-scale commercialisation of onboard carbon capture and storage.

Commenting in the report, Professor Lynn Loo, CEO of GCMD had this to say: “While pilots have successfully demonstrated numerous capture technologies onboard ships, it is still uncertain how captured carbon on merchant ships can be safely offloaded, and what the rest of the value chain looks like.” (Ref 6)

Growing interest among shipowners

With the regulatory landscape rapidly evolving, it will become increasingly important for shipowners to look ahead and embark on a decarbonization strategy that allows for regulatory compliance and optimized operations.

It is no wonder that in recent years, we have seen a growing number of shipowners across Asia entering into partnerships to explore the potential of OCCS.

DNV entered into a Joint Development Project (JDP) with AL Group and its Singapore company Asiatic Lloyd Maritime LLP in November 2023 to explore the feasibility of CCS on board AL’s 7,100TEU containership and Kamsarmax bulk carrier newbuildings. (Ref 7)

Under the JDP, DNV will cooperate with AL on a techno economic study of CCS on board the vessels using DNVs FuelPath to assess the economic potential of the different fuel and technology strategies.

Backed by DNV’s experienced global network and team of experts in the Centre of Excellence for Maritime Decarbonization & Smart Shipping in Singapore, we are in a prime position to help the industry navigate the maritime energy transition in a safe and efficient manner.” (Ref 8)

Earlier this year, we entered into another JDP, this time with the Singapore-based shipping company SDTR Marine to cooperate on an Onboard Carbon Capture and Storage (OCCS) feasibility study for the latter’s 85,000 dwt Kamsarmax bulk carrier.

DNV, through its work with other stakeholders and through these JDPs, will make sure it addresses the extremely important economic viability of OCCS and take care of all operational and safety issues at the same time.

Steps towards wider adoption

For shipowners to adopt onboard carbon capture, appropriate emission regulations must be established to credit captured CO2.

Currently, the EU Emissions Trading System is the only regulatory framework incentivizing carbon capture on ships, which is in alignment with EU strategy on land-based CCS.

In addition, the IMO has initiated a working group to look further into how onboard carbon capture can potentially be implemented in new GHG emission regulations.

We also know every well – and the whitepaper emphasizes this – that globally maritime cannot go on its own with OCCS. We must be connected to the global CCUS value chain.

As of today, this infrastructure is not established. The shipping industry needs to reach out to relevant CCUS development projects near major shipping hubs to discuss how the maritime industry can connect to the wider CCUS value chain.

OCCS will be driven to succeed only if it has the necessary global and regional regulatory approvals, in addition to industry assessments, testing and pilot projects.

Note: Access DNV’s guidelines for Onboard Carbon Capture Systems (OCCS) onboard ships here.

References:

1. https://www.iea.org/reports/net-zero-roadmap-a-global-pathway-to-keep-the-15-0c-goal-in-reach
2. https://www.globalccsinstitute.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Global-Status-Report-2023_Slide-Deck-APAC-Website.pdf
3. https://www.dnv.com/maritime/publications/the-potential-of-onboard-carbon-capture-in-shipping-download/
4. https://www.imo.org/en/OurWork/Environment/Pages/2023-IMO-Strategy-on-Reduction-of-GHG-Emissions-from-Ships.aspx
5. https://www.dnv.com/expert-story/maritime-impact/positive-outlook-for-carbon-shipping-amid-big-push-to-fix-technical-challenges/
6. https://www.gcformd.org/landmark-study-on-offloading-onboard-captured-carbon-dioxide/
7. https://www.dnv.com/news/dnv-and-al-group-to-cooperate-on-ccs-feasibility-study-250184/
8. https://www.dnv.com/news/dnv-inks-jdp-to-explore-occs-for-sdtr-marine-s-kamsarmax-252180/

Photo credit: DNV
Published: 24 June, 2024