The Week in Alternative Fuels 8 September 2023
This week's alternative fuel headlines continue to emphasise the importance of carbon capture and storage technologies in reducing maritime emissions.
PHOTO: Overview of carbon capture transportation and storage. Global CCS Institute
The American Bureau of Shipping highlighted carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a potential frontrunner for reducing maritime well-to-wake (WTW) emissions. CCS will be pivotal in “reducing emissions in both carbon-intensive processes and in the growing use of low-carbon fuels, such as liquefied natural gas (LNG), methanol or biofuels,” ABS said in a report.
As CCS gains prominence, so does the importance of transporting the gas safely - for further utilisation or permanent storage. Energy intelligence firm Rystad Energy estimates that over 90 million mt/year of CO2 will be shipped by 2030, and it will require at least 55 CO2 carriers and 48 import-export terminals.
The report also forecast Norway to account for about 30% of global CO2 shipments in 2030, with 26 million mt/year. This assertion is reinforced by the headlines this week featuring Norwegian firms working on CO2 shipping technologies, like liquefied CO2 (LCO2) carriers and floating CO2 storage units (FCSUs).
Norway-based marine engineer Höegh LNG will develop FSCUs to ship CO2 captured from European industrial emitters to inject it into subsea reservoirs for permanent storage by 2030. Meanwhile, Norwegian oil producer Aker BP will develop offshore injection facilities and select suitable subsea reservoirs within the Norwegian Continental Shelf for permanent CO2 storage.
Furthermore, Norway-based Northern Lights ordered its third LCO2 carrier to transport carbon captured from industrial emitters in Norway to an offshore reservoir. A rise in demand for "cross-border CO2 storage and transport" prompted the order, said Northern Lights managing director Børre Jacobsen.
Lastly, South Korea also grabbed attention this week, as classification society Korean Register (KR) partnered with a South Korean trio to conceptualise a 12,000 cbm LCO2 carrier. The trio includes shipbuilders K Shipbuilding, Sunbo Industries and chemical company Dongsung Finetec.
By Konica Bhatt
Here is our selection of top five alternative fuels stories from this week:
Carbon capture will play a 'pivotal role' in shipping’s future – ABS
55 CO2 carriers needed to ship more than 90 million mt/year of CO2 by 2030 – Rystad Energy
Höegh LNG, Aker BP partner on carbon capture and storage in Europe
