Global outlook for certification, standards in CO2 shipping

Mr Guerrero highlighted several key projects that are setting the standard for CCS implementation. These projects are not only pivotal in reducing carbon emissions but also showcase the potential for scaling CCS technologies to meet future environmental targets.

Mr Guerrero underscored the significant investments and collaborations driving these initiatives, illustrating the robust framework supporting CCS advancements across Europe.

He said: "A collaborative approach for innovation is key to increase efficiency. We have seen that many of these new ideas involve some new technologies."

One of the critical aspects of Mr Guerrero’s presentation was the size of the LCO2 fleet required for efficient transport. He provided an in-depth analysis of the current and projected fleet sizes necessary to meet the demands of CCS projects.

Factors such as the capacity of LCO2 carriers, the frequency of voyages, and the distances to injection sites play a vital role in determining the optimal fleet size.

Mr Guerrero addressed the challenges associated with managing a fleet of this scale, proposing potential solutions to enhance fleet utilisation and efficiency. Mr Guerrero emphasised the critical importance of operating CO2 carriers within precise pressure and temperature ranges to maintain efficiency and prevent solidification issues. He noted: "Many other companies have developed projects with pressure that are closer to the physical point to avoid solidification and ensure optimal performance."

Technical challenges in transporting LCO2 were another focal point of Mr Guerrero’s presentation. He discussed the complexities of designing LCO2 carriers that can maintain the required pressure and temperature conditions for safe and efficient transport.

Direct offshore injection of LCO2 was a significant theme in Mr Guerrero’s discussion and he detailed the process and advantages of this method, which involves injecting captured CO2 directly into offshore geological formations. This technique offers several benefits, including reducing onshore storage requirements and the potential for large-scale CO2 sequestration.

Mr Guerrero also presented case studies of successful offshore injection projects, demonstrating their feasibility and effectiveness and the technical and operational considerations necessary for these projects, including the design of injection platforms and the selection of suitable geological sites.

He noted material selection and corrosion management are critical issues in the construction and operation of LCO2 carriers and he stressed the importance of choosing appropriate materials for the internal tanks to prevent corrosion and ensure the integrity of the transport system.

The takeaway is that it will take time to develop the regulatory framework and checks and balances needed to ensure CO2 shipping is conducted safely, and fairly. It will be a long, but necessary process - as Mr Chaelis remarked: “We all agree that CO2 represents an irreplaceable component towards energy transition.”

CO2 case study: a single hub supported by three CO2 carriers

Mr Guerrero presented a case study of a CO2 hub supported by three CO2 carriers. The theoretical hub, located in Germany, has a total capacity of 12M tonnes per annum (mtpa), including temporary storage and import/export terminals. Two North Sea offshore storage sites are identified in the case study, one located 500 nautical miles (nm) offshore with a capacity of 6 mtpa, and another 100 nm offshore with the same capacity.

To support the CO2 hub and offshore injection platforms, three shipping routes were proposed: one from collection points to the onshore CO2 hub; one from the hub to the first injection platform (500 nm offshore); and a third from the hub to the second injection platform (100 nm offshore). Different fleet configurations are considered, including small LCO2 carriers (7500 m³) and handy size LCO2 carriers (20,000 m³ or 12,000 m³). Mr Guerrero noted that the case study helped establish the importance of optimising berth occupancy, ship utilisation, and loading/offloading rates to maximise efficiency. The case study also suggested using barges and inland vessels for short-distance transport, highlighting the need to balance logistical and operational factors.

*Riviera CO2 Shipping & Terminals Conference 2024, held Tuesday 18 June 2024 at the Waldorf Hilton hotel, and kindly sponsored by Societe Generale.