Sweden: Opcon Shortlisted in Sustainable Shipping Awards

Energy and environmental technology Group Opcon and its new marine adaptation of Opcon Powerbox have been shortlisted in the prestigious Sustainable Shipping Awards in the category Environmental Innovation of the Year. These awards recognise companies and individuals making great strides to shape and improve the environmental legacy of shipping. The final will be decided in London on 7 July 2011.

“This is an important acknowledgment. Just to be shortlisted in this context means a lot for us. This nomination gives us the opportunity to showcase our technology to a global audience of shipping industry professionals and confirms the interest we see for what our technology can offer in terms of improved fuel economy and reduced emissions for international shipping,” says Rolf Hasselström, President and CEO of Opcon AB.

Opcon’s innovative environmental technology means that waste heat from the operation of a ship’s diesel engines that was previously wasted can be recycled to generate electricity on board which can provide up to 5-10% lower fuel consumption and reduced emissions. A key difference compared with other techniques is that the electricity can be generated from very low temperatures and under varying conditions. Electricity can even be produced efficiently from the engine’s cooling water.

The international shipping industry currently accounts for around 90% of the growth of global trade, while the total carbon emissions from shipping accounts for 4-5% of global emissions, or around twice the emissions from aviation. Globalization is expected to mean even further growth in world trade.

Maritime transport is also a major source of emissions of other pollutants such as NOx, sulfur and particles. Demands from the authorities concerning these substances are escalating, which affects the qualities of fuel used and thus the price. In 2010 the permitted sulfur content in fuel in the ECA (Emission Control Areas) was cut to 1% from 1.5%. In 2015, it will fall to 0.1%. Improved fuels with lower sulfur content are also significantly more expensive.

Bunker prices have also risen sharply and are expected as a consequence of increasing demand to be on a long-term rising trend. Since the financial crisis in early 2009, prices for all bunker grades have recovered and more than doubled in two years.

“Our technology represents a major improvement in energy efficiency. This efficiency is a major financial factor with high oil prices and increased political pressure on reducing emissions in the shipping sector,” says Rolf Hasselström, President and CEO of Opcon AB.

The first full-scale marine adaptation of Opcon Powerbox was recently delivered to Daewoo’s shipyard in France where it will be installed on a ship currently being built for the leading Swedish shipping company, Wallenius. Installation will be carried out on an engine from MAN Diesel & Turbo. This first reference installation is a result of collaboration between Opcon, the energy and environmental technology company, and Wallenius Marine. The project, which aims to test and introduce unique Swedish energy technology to save energy and reduce emissions in the shipping sector is also supported by the Swedish Energy Agency.

A part of Opcon’s focus on Waste to Value, Opcon Powerbox is Opcon’s proprietary product for production of carbon-free electricity using primarily waste and surplus heat starting at temperatures of 55° C. This technology is already installed in power and process industry applications on land.

The Opcon Group

Opcon is an energy and environmental technology Group that develops, produces and markets systems and products for eco-friendly, efficient and resource-effective use of energy.

Renewable Energy focuses on the following areas: electricity generation based on waste heat, bioenergy-powered heating and CHP plants, pellets plants, drying of biomass, handling systems for biomass, sludge and natural gas, industrial cooling, flue gas condensation, treatment of flue gases and air systems for fuel cells.

Engine Efficiency focuses on energy-efficient solenoid technology and ignition systems for combustion engines including ethanol, natural gas and biogas engines.

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Source: Opcon, June 10, 2011.