Wärtsilä, a leading technology group, has announced that it is now offering feasibility studies for carbon capture and storage (CCS) to shipowners and operators. This marks another significant step in the company’s commitment to researching, developing, and bringing maritime CCS technologies to the market. The studies have already been conducted on various vessel types, including ro-ro and ro-pax vessels, a drill ship, a container vessel, and a gas carrier.
The process of conducting these studies takes four to six months of dedicated study and design work. Wärtsilä’s experts from the Exhaust Treatment division are involved in ship design at an early stage to conduct engineering work and determine how CCS can be seamlessly integrated into the vessels once the technology is commercialized.
These feasibility studies are being carried out for both newbuild and existing vessels. Retrofitting CCS installations will be made easier with the presence of a scrubber onboard. Wärtsilä’s Exhaust Treatment division is already offering CCS-Ready scrubbers integrated on the vessels, ensuring that CCS systems can be easily added in the future once the technology is available commercially.
Once the CCS feasibility studies are completed, Wärtsilä will provide customers with a comprehensive commercial offer that can be shared with shipyards to obtain an exact quote for installation. During the studies, Wärtsilä’s experts closely examine the existing naval architecture of the vessels and understand how the power, space, and exhaust demands of CCS can be accommodated onboard. Shipowners will receive a qualified analysis of the costs of CCS integration and a clear list of considerations on how a potential retrofit can be conducted in the least disruptive manner.
By conducting these studies, Wärtsilä aims to accelerate the early stages of CCS integration and reduce the barriers to entry once the technology is commercially available in the near future. The studies also serve as an opportunity to educate customers on the benefits and specific considerations associated with installing CCS on their vessels. Additionally, conducting these studies alongside the implementation of new environmental regulations for shipping allows owners to stay ahead of their peers.
Sigurd Jenssen, Director of Wärtsilä Exhaust Treatment, expressed enthusiasm about launching these feasibility studies and offering them to the market. He emphasized that this is an important step in bringing carbon capture and storage to shipping and building a track record of how this technology will work across different vessel types. Jenssen also highlighted the industry’s growing interest in CCS as a decarbonization solution and the significant uptake of Wärtsilä’s CCS-Ready scrubbers.
In conclusion, Wärtsilä’s announcement of offering feasibility studies for carbon capture and storage to shipowners and operators marks a crucial milestone in the research and development of maritime CCS technologies. These studies, conducted across various vessel types, aim to facilitate the smooth integration of CCS once the technology is commercialized. Shipowners who opt for Wärtsilä CCS-Ready scrubbers will have the advantage of easier retrofitting for future CCS installations. By conducting these studies now, Wärtsilä aims to lower the entry barriers and provide shipowners with valuable insights into the costs and logistics of CCS integration.
