Houlder takes part in marine carbon capture study

Houlder, a London-based design & engineering consultancy for the marine, energy and defence markets, has commenced work in partnership with PMW Technology on a study to evaluate the potential marine applications of carbon capture technology.

PMW Technology is among the latest organisations to receive funding from the UK Government’s Department for Transport’s Transport-Technology Research Innovation Grant (T-TRIG).

Awarded in March 2020, the funding is for a six month project to evaluate the feasibility, costs, infrastructure, impacts, and potential benefits of using advanced carbon capture technology to decarbonise marine shipping.

As explained, the organisation’s A3C carbon capture process is designed to extract carbon dioxide from marine exhaust gases by freezing, then subliming the carbon dioxide. It is then liquified and stored in dedicated tanks onboard, allowing for carbon capture from vessel emissions without radical technical overhauls of marine engines and fuels.

Houlder said it consults on key variables within the study to assess the operational viability of the technology and its potential application for shipping.

“We’re pleased to be working with PMW Technology and its partners on this study and look forward to sharing our learnings upon its completion, for the benefit of all of those transforming industries that stand to benefit from advancements in carbon capture,” Rupert Hare, CEO of Houlder, commented.

“In the technology sector in particular, there is rapidly growing interest across the marine and energy sectors for cleaner technologies to accelerate the drive towards a zero-carbon future. The appetite for technology creates fertile ground for start-ups, and we relish the opportunity to share our … expertise with our entrepreneurial partners and guide their projects through feasibility testing and to operational reality.”

“The commitments made by the IMO for radical reductions in shipping emissions by 2050 will require major changes to fuels and vessel design. Current renewable fuel favourites such as hydrogen and ammonia will require global investment estimated to exceed $1 trillion,” Paul Willson, Director of PMW Technology, said.

“Carbon capture from marine engines offers shipping the opportunity to avoid the huge cost of new fuel production and delivery systems, as well as retention of existing vessel and current high-performance engine designs.”

“With our partners Houlder, Tees Valley Combined Authority, and the University of Chester providing key operational and economic insights, we’re looking forward to assessing carbon capture’s potential as a more affordable means of achieving marine decarbonisation,” Willson concluded.