Norwegian shipping company Solvang has fitted its first vessel with a CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) system, as stated in a press release shared by Solvang with Maritime Executive. This vessel, named Clipper Eris, is a 160-meter-long liquefied gas tanker that was built at a Hyundai shipyard in 2019. Solvang’s goal is to make gas transportation at sea more eco-friendly by capturing CO₂ emissions right as they occur and storing it for later use. The captured CO₂ can be processed and utilized on land.
Government Support for the Initiative
This pilot project has backing from the Norwegian government. Edvin Endresen, the CEO of Solvang, emphasizes the importance of having a global infrastructure in place for CCS to be effective, and stresses the need for its quick development. In this regard, Solvang is urging the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to establish relevant regulations, paralleling the work done by the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization). Both of these bodies are part of the United Nations.
Impact of Shipping on CO₂ Emissions
Solvang points out that the current fleet of around 70,000 cargo ships worldwide predominantly runs on fossil fuels, contributing to three percent of global CO₂ emissions. However, the CCS system installed on the Clipper Eris has its limitations, capturing only 70% of carbon dioxide emissions. The remaining emissions, along with other gases from the exhaust, are still released into the atmosphere. As part of this pilot program, Solvang is collaborating with Wärtsilä, MAN Energy Solutions, and the Norwegian research institute SINTEF.
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