ABB to maximize fuel efficiency on world’s first CO2 carriers

ABB has been selected to deliver the shaft generator system with permanent magnet technology for the first dedicated CO2-storage vessels ever to be built. The vessels will be constructed by the Chinese shipbuilder Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Co. (DSIC).

Due for delivery in 2024, the two vessels will support the Northern Lights carbon capture and storage (CCS) project by transporting greenhouse gas from industrial emitters to an onshore terminal in Øygarden, Norway. From there, the CO2 will be delivered by pipeline to dedicated reservoirs 2600 meters under the seabed in the North Sea for permanent storage.

Two CO2 carrier vessels will support the Northern Lights carbon capture and storage (CCS) project by transporting greenhouse gas from industrial emitters to an onshore terminal in Øygarden, Norway. (Photo: Northern Lights)

Each of the 130 m ships will be able to carry up to 7500 m3 of liquefied CO2 in purpose-built pressurized cargo tanks.

The vessels will be driven by two-stroke MAN 7S35ME-C9.7-GI dual-fuel engines. Able to operate on gas or MGO, the engines have a maximum rating of 6090 kW at 167rpm and a continuous propulsion power of 4118 kW at 147 rpm.

ABB’s permanent magnet shaft generator system will be used to increase the fuel efficiency of the vessels and reduce emissions. Combining this technology with the variable speed MAN engines allows harvesting power for all onboard systems through the rotating force of the shaft, significantly improving performance compared to a traditional setup with fixed speed engines, ABB said.

ABB announced in June that it will also deliver the main electrical, automation and safety systems for the Northern Lights project, enabling the remote operation of the terminal and ensuring that the facility runs at optimum efficiency.

Northern Lights, a joint venture between Equinor, Shell and Total, is the first CCS project to develop an open and flexible infrastructure to store CO2 from industries across Europe. The first phase of the project is due to be completed mid-2024 and will have the capacity to permanently store up to 1.5 million tons of CO2 per year, with the ambition to expand to over five million tons annually in a second phase.

“Addressing the world’s energy challenges requires a constant push for innovation, and we are proud to make a difference with our leading technology,” said Rune Braastad, Global Business Line Manager, Marine Systems at ABB Marine & Ports. “Transporting captured emissions by ships will be key to the success of the Northern Lights project, paving the way for further developments to help accelerate decarbonization in heavy industry sectors.”

ABB’s scope of supply also covers full engineering and commissioning services. In addition, the vessels will have access to the ABB Ability Marine Remote Diagnostic System for continuous equipment monitoring, optimized machinery and planned-maintenance activities, and reduced maintenance costs.