Solvang Shipping unveils energy-efficient CCS tech
It is not for every vessel – but Solvang’s huge CCS has achieved impressive results (Source: Solvang)
In testing of carbon capture and storage (CCS) systems on land and sea, typically around 30% of CO2 exhaust gas is successfully captured at a cost of as much as 50% extra fuel burned, a punitive cost. But by combining a retrofitted CCS system with previously installed exhaust gas recirculation (EGR), Solvang Shipping claims to have been able to capture up to 60% of CO2 gas while generating just a 20% increase in fuel consumption.
“We have found that going between 30-50%, there is hardly any increase – like 5%,” explained Edvin Endresen, Solvang’s CEO. “But when you go past 60%, it climbs – 10, 15%. When you get close to 70%, you get a 15, 20% increase in fuel. Then, the curve goes really steep, because you need to apply much more heat to get the extra out of it.”
Solvang Shipping has made no compromises as to the size of its system, with the vessel’s funnel now much the same size as the bridge itself. The system uses scavenged heat from the engine to support the reaction, adding to its efficiency; but the key is combining EGR and CCS. A higher concentration of exhaust gases leaving the cylinder and entering the CCS facilitates dramatic improvements in its efficiency.
“This is just lucky – we were not thinking about CCS when we developed the EGR, but it concentrates the CO2,” said Endressen.
However, the system will still rely on carbon offtake at ports, something which does not exist so far. “This is like a catch-and-release system at the moment,” he added.
