Stena Bulk owned and operated MR tanker Stena Impero recently took part in an onboard carbon capture and storage trial under the Project REMARCCABLE initiative.
This project aimed to explore the technical and economic implications of retrofitting an onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) system to reduce emissions while balancing operational efficiency and found that OCCS technology could reduce the vessel’s CO2 emissions by up to 20% per year, albeit at a fuel penalty nearing 10%.
According to the trial’s results, the 2018-built, 49,700-dwt Stena Impero can maintain its CII rating of “C and better” for an additional 9 years with the OCCS retrofit, allowing it to operate in compliance until the end of its vessel life, assuming a CII reduction factor of 2% annually from 2027 onwards.
The retrofitted OCCS design, estimated to cost around US$13.6M, includes a modular mega skid carbon capture system that integrates with the ship’s existing boiler system, though this setup requires mechanical adjustments to maximize thermal energy availability.
The operational expenditure (Opex) of the system, mainly due to increased fuel use, additional personnel, and regular maintenance, stands at approximately US$830,000 annually.
Stena Bulk President and CEO Erik Hånell said, “This may be expensive for first movers, but the consortium believes that further research and development will drive down costs, making OCCS an increasingly viable solution for the shipping industry.”
Stena worked on the project in collaboration with the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI) and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) and consortium partners American Bureau of Shipping, Alfa Laval, Deltamarin, Lloyd’s Register, Seatrium, and Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO).
In a statement, OGCI’s head of Transport Workstream Dr Michael Traver acknowledged the trial as a “milestone” in assessing the role of carbon capture in maritime decarbonisation.
However, Mr Traver noted that OCCS implementation is challenged by high initial costs and limited port infrastructure for offloading captured CO2.
The project underscores the industry-wide need for port policies and storage solutions to manage captured emissions.
GCMD CEO Professor Lynn Loo noted that practical deployment of OCCS relies on developing a complete offloading infrastructure, citing GCMD’s prior work on establishing an operational framework for carbon offloading.
Professor Loo further explained that optimising CO2 capture rates while managing costs remains a balancing act in carbon capture technology.
Moving forward, the study indicates potential cost reductions through economies of scale and integrating OCCS in newbuild designs.
While no major technical barriers were identified, industry-wide collaboration is necessary to develop infrastructure and manage long-term costs effectively.
On the regulatory front, the industry awaits guidance from IMO’s Correspondence Group tasked with developing a framework for OCCS in MEPC 83.
source: riviera
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