New solutions promise to cut methane emissions in shipping

There is a strong potential to cut fugitive methane emissions in the maritime industry, three new feasibility studies have shown.

Lloyd’s Register-established Safetytech Accelerator, in collaboration with industry giants Chevron, Carnival Corporation, Shell, and Seapeak, has completed the three technology feasibility studies as part of its flagship Methane Abatement in Maritime Innovation Initiative (MAMII).

MAMII is exploring options to advance these research projects to on-ship trials as soon as possible.

MAMII was launched in September 2022 by Safetytech Accelerator, bringing together industry leaders, technology innovators, and maritime stakeholders to advance technologies for measuring and mitigating methane emissions in the maritime sector and promote the adoption of validated solutions. It currently has 20+ shipping and energy companies as anchor partners.

While methane slip – unburnt methane released during the combustion process – remains the largest source of methane emissions on ships, emissions across the LNG supply chain, from loading to engine delivery, are also a concern.

These fugitive emissions are often unintended and short-lived, but identifying, quantifying, and mitigating them is essential to achieving industry-wide decarbonization goals.

Xplorobot, Sorama and framergy were selected by MAMII to help address the vital need to detect, measure and capture fugitive methane emissions from LNG-fueled ships.

Feasibility study results show promise for methane abatement

Xplorobot conducted a detailed evaluation of its methane compliance solution, focusing on its efficacy in detecting and quantifying methane emissions on LNG carriers and LNG-powered vessels.

The study targeted emissions from the warm side of the gas fuel line and both planned and unplanned venting events. Utilizing comparable on-land data, this desktop analysis assessed how the technology would perform in maritime settings.

The technology demonstrated accuracy levels of +/-30% for emissions over 500 grams per hour and +/-50% for emissions between 100 and 500 grams per hour, thanks to a refined neural network algorithm calibrated through controlled release experiments.

As per Safetytech Accelerator, Xplorobot’s solution promises to reduce inspection time ‘dramatically’, with the ability to inspect 50 to 100 components in under an hour—sometimes as quickly as 10 minutes. This efficiency, combined with automated digital emission tracking and compliance reporting, makes the solution cost-effective. The next step is to deploy the kit in the field to further validate and optimize the technology for widespread adoption across the maritime industry.

“Working with industry leaders provided in-depth insights into the methane emission monitoring needs of the shipping industry. It also allowed us to showcase the impact of our methane detection and mitigation technology. Xplorobot’s goal is to empower shipping operators with actionable insights to reduce emissions, enhance safety and operational efficiency, and achieve their sustainability goals,” Oleg Mikhailov, CEO of Xplorobot, noted.

Sorama evaluated the technical and financial viability of deploying advanced acoustic monitoring technology on LNG carriers to detect and manage fugitive methane emissions. Their study highlights how the strategic use of fixed and handheld devices can help precisely locate and quantify methane slips, which are crucial to remediating for environmental compliance and reducing GHG emissions.

The report scopes a six-month pilot program involving 4 fixed cameras monitoring several areas of the ship’s trunk deck for gas domes and one handheld device to monitor areas on demand, such as the cargo compressor room.

As explained, the technology not only promises environmental benefits but is also a cost-effective solution for ship operators, with the potential to transform emission monitoring standards in the sector.

“Participating in the MAMII Challenge was a valuable experience for Sorama. It gives us the opportunity to show the effectiveness of our advanced acoustic monitoring technology in a new sector, detecting and managing methane emissions on LNG ships. The results of our feasibility study show that our technology not only offers environmental benefits but is also a cost-effective solution for ship operators. We are excited about the potential of this technology to transform emission standards in the maritime sector and look forward to the next phase of on-ship trials,” Bart Vaes, VP Business Development at Sorama, said.

framergy explored the potential deployment of its AYRSORB F250GII, a metal-organic framework material, on LNG carriers to mitigate fugitive methane emissions.

This innovative material can store and purify methane at much lower pressures than conventional methods.

The study demonstrated that AYRSORB F250GII could significantly reduce methane emissions during planned and unplanned venting events, hence offering significant operational cost savings and potential revenue from the reuse or sale of captured methane.

“framergy’s partnership with Chevron enabled us to adapt our methane mitigation technology for LNG transport vessels, identifying the most impactful application to reduce their GHG emissions. Without this feasibility study, the target area could still lack a potential solution for these types of emissions,” Jeff St. Amant, CEO of framergy, commented.

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• MOL joins MAMII to work on reducing methane emissions
• 7 new members join methane busting initiative
• MISC and NYK Line join maritime methane abatement drive
• SEA-LNG: Methane slip for all engine technologies to be eliminated within decade