By
Alex Smith |
A Norwegian consortium has been formed to develop a new solution for capturing and storing carbon dioxide from LNG-fuelled Solide Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) power trains.
The LNGameChanger project is led by maritime technology supplier HAV Group and involves coastal cruise operator Havila Voyages, natural gas company Molgas Norway and research institution SINTEF. The project was revealed in a press conference onboard Havila Voyages’ Havila Capella while the ship was docked in Ålesund, Norway.
“The LNGameChanger project aims to create the basis of a new product in form of a low-or zero-emission solution for the maritime industry, strongly positioned for a growing LNG market and infrastructure with superior efficiency to alternative solutions,” said Gunnar Larsen, CEO of HAV Group. “If this objective is achieved, LNG can become not only a transitional fuel, but a permanently viable option in low-emission maritime transport, alongside for example hydrogen.”
The project’s primary objective is to design a maritime LNG-fuelled power train combining SOFC and high-efficiency onboard carbon dioxide liquefaction and storage, resulting in a carbon dioxide-equivalent intensity between the 2045 and 2050 emission limits.
Secondary objectives are to confirm energy efficiency and emission targets for the SOFC power train with carbon dioxide capture in stand-alone mode. The project also aims to establish a use case with a vessel design and relevant operational profile to extract load profile characteristics and perform voyage simulations for the vessel in study. This may take place onboard Havila Voyages’ four coastal cruise ships. The performance of the SOFC power train integrated with the onboard carbon dioxide capture and storage will be determined. The overall space and weight requirements will also be evaluated, as well as the solution’s adaptability for marine applications.
All four of Havila Voyages’ vessels are powered by LNG fuel
“We have clear ambitions to move towards carbon neutrality and eventually zero emissions, and that can be done with our current fleet,” said Bent Martini, CEO of Havila Voyages. “This project is of great interest for us as our main power source today is LNG. To be able to meet future requirements and reach the goals for a greener future, we cannot lock ourselves in one direction. We have to investigate the possibilities available to find the best solution, both for the environment and from a business perspective.”
In addition to the required onboard processes, LNGameChanger will also address the infrastructure needs related to decentralised carbon dioxide collection and transport in port. This will include the potential for combining this with LNG distribution.
“This technology could provide a clear pathway for large scale, low emission solution that leverages well known and robust supply chain of energy to hard to abate sectors,” said Anders Torp, Rød, managing director at Molgas Norway. “Molgas Energy supports developments that aims to reduce emissions based on available technology and product availability.”
The Norwegian Research Council has awarded LNGameChange a grant of approximately NOK 5 million ($474,000) over the project’s two-year duration, providing for research activities by SINTEF. The partners will be involved in the project execution, with technical experts provided for ship and systems integration, regulatory compliance and risk assessment, as well as overall project management.
“SINTEF is involved in a growing portfolio of projects that focus on different solutions for decarbonization of the maritime industry,” said David Berstad, researcher at SINTEF. “A low-to-zero-emission concept that combines an established maritime fuel with innovative CO2 capture technology is a promising solution that can be applied to many different vessel types.”
From left: Gunnar Larsen, CEO of HAV Group, Bent Martini, CEO of Havila Voyages and David Berstad, researcher at SINTEF