AiP granted for high pressure ambient LCO2 transport concept

KNCC is a new joint venture company established by the Knutsen Group and the NYK Group to provide CO2 transportation and storage solutions.

Ship transport of CO2 for commercial use is currently carried out via small ships at medium pressure. For the expansion of the carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain larger ships will be required to maximise transportation efficiency. The KNCC PCO2 concept aims to tackle the scaling challenge by transporting liquefied CO2 at medium-high (35-45 bar) pressure and temperatures in the range of 0-10°C.

The PCO2 concept is based on a cylinder type CO2 containment system applying principles used in compressed natural gas transportation. The CO2 is stored in bundles of vertically stacked small-diameter pressure cylinders, rather than large cylindrical tanks.

The Motorship notes that the system converts the CO2 into liquid form at ambient temperatures, rather than the cryogenic temperatures required by alternative solutions. This potentially offers cost savings along the supply chain compared with competing solutions which require cryogenic storage. 

By focusing on the transport of liquefied CO2 under high pressure at roughly ambient temperatures, the PCO2 concept looks to significantly scale potential transport volumes compared to existing solutions. In addition, the concept aims to maintain a relatively uniform product across the LCO2 transport chain, in terms of pressure, temperature and state, from capture through transport, to offshore injection.

Svein Steimler, President and CEO of NYK Group Europe Ltd. and Chair of KNCC said “NYK is investing significantly in green technology to ensure that global targets for emission reductions are met. These investments are aimed to reduce emissions from our existing operations and equally important, to identify and verify alternative fuels and propulsion systems for the future. KNCC provides the solution for handling CO2 until the required global energy transition is in place, and represents an important additional element in NYK’s strategy”.

The PCO2 concept has been reviewed under the IGC code, DNV rules for Gas Carriers Pt.5 Ch. 7 and “Compressed natural gas tankers”, Pt.5 Ch. 8, and will result in the DNV class notation Tanker for CO2.