CCShip - Deploying Carbon Capture and Storage for ships to enable maritime CO₂ emission mitigation

Several technologies could be used to strongly reduce these emissions, for example use of zero-carbon fuels such as hydrogen and ammonia, electrification and Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). The deployment of zero-carbon fuels will be necessary for the decarbonization of maritime transport. Nevertheless, the low maturity of technology and supporting infrastructure make zero-carbon fuels relevant mainly as long-term solutions. Due to its already high maturity for onshore applications, on-board CCS systems can play an important role in meeting the shipping emission target before zero-carbon fuels become viable. Considering the long lifespan of existing and planned hydrocarbon-fueled ships, on-board CCS is also expected to be a long-term measure.

The main objective of the CCShip project is to develop cost-effective solutions for CCS from ships, as well as understand when CCS can be a more attractive technology than alternative solutions to reduce CO₂ emissions from ships. With solvent-based CO₂ capture as a base case, different CO₂ capture solutions will be investigated to identify their potential (in term of weight, compactness, integration, efficiency, and cost) for different ship types and transport applications (size, fuel type, voyage distance), considering both new building and retrofitting of vessels.

Maritime shipping is an integral part of the world economy, accounting for over 75 % of the global trade by volume. Today, international shipping accounts for 2 % of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and these are predicted to grow by 50-250 % by 2050 compared to 2008. In 2018, the International Maritime Organization adopted a strategy for reduction of GHG emissions from ships in line with international climate agreements by 50 % in 2050 compared with 2008 levels. This poses a challenge to the maritime industry and Norway as the 5th largest ship owning country.

CCShip will be a key contribution in developing new knowledge and technologies for climate-friendly solutions for maritime transport through cost-effective CO₂ capture and storage applications for ships. CCShip will develop in-depth knowledge on key factors influencing the potential of onboard CCS such as different engine systems, voyage distance, ship type, size and CO₂ capture rate. To develop solutions for both near- and long-term deployment, CO₂ capture from ships based on mature solvent-based technology and the potential of next generation technologies will be investigated with the goal to significantly reduce the cost of implementation. This is done through comprehensive case studies to identify when CCS can be cost-competitive with alternative solutions for CO₂ emission reductions from ships such as ammonia, hydrogen and batteries. Building on the other activities of the project, CCShip will identify and lay a roadmap on key aspects (technical, economic, incentives to facilitate implementation, legal and regulatory) to enable deployment of cost-effective CCS on ships.

CCShip comprises a strong industry consortium, with several important companies in the field of maritime industry and its network. The project will function as an arena for networking and cooperation between these partners to share experiences and collectively advancing the research frontiers in this field.