A pioneering project exploring the technical feasibility of onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) for the maritime sector has concluded that the technology could play a significant role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from shipping.

The study, part of the “Realising Maritime Carbon Capture to Demonstrate the Ability to Lower Emissions” (REMARCCABLE) project, was carried out by the Oil and Gas Climate Initiative (OGCI), the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD), and Stena Bulk, in partnership with a consortium of leading maritime organisations.

The project focused on retrofitting a carbon capture system onto the medium-range tanker Stena Impero and demonstrated that OCCS could reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by up to 20% annually, with a manageable fuel consumption penalty of just under 10%. The cost of the system was estimated at $13.6 million, with an initial abatement cost of $769 per ton of CO2. However, the consortium is optimistic that ongoing research and development will help reduce these costs, making OCCS a more economically viable solution for the shipping industry.