Sener develops carbon capture systems for new ships

Sener, a Spanish engineering company, has developed the conceptual and basic engineering of two new general cargo vessels equipped with carbon capture systems for German shipping company Grona Shipping, it said on September 26.

The vessels will be 6,000 and 9,100 tonnes, respectively, and will be powered by LNG. The carbon capture systems can be located on top of the LNG tanks or as structural tanks between the two cargo holds.

These systems will help shipowners meet the decarbonisation targets set by the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) and the European Union (EU), reducing the need to replace their ships' propulsion systems. Grona Shipping operates in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, where these vessels would enter into operation.

Carbon capture systems work by removing carbon dioxide (CO2) from the exhaust gases of ships. This CO2 can then be stored or used for other purposes, such as producing synthetic fuels. LNG is a cleaner fuel than traditional marine fuels, such as heavy fuel oil, but it still produces CO2 emissions.

The IMO has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from shipping by 50% by 2050. The EU has also set ambitious targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from all sectors, including shipping.