Solvang orders world’s first full scale onboard CCS retrofit

The 7MW CCS system will be supplied by Wärtsilä and will be installed on one of Solvang’s ECO series of ethylene carriers, the 21,000-cbm Clipper Eris in the third quarter of 2024. Solvang and Wärtsilä initially announced plans to collaborate on the retrofit of a CCS system on one of Solvang’s LPG carriers in October 2021. 

The Clipper Eris features two hybrid Wärtsilä Venturi exhaust gas cleaning systems combined with a low pressure EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system. The vessel’s primary power installation is a six-cylinder 50ME-C8.5 diesel manufactured under licence from MAN Energy Solutions by Hyundai Heavy Industry, and specified at an NCR rating of 7,100kW at 104 RPM. The vessel also features 3 x Hyundai Himsen auxiliary engines, specified at 1,400 kW at 720 RPM.

The project will use amine cleaning technology to capture 70% of the carbon dioxide (CO2) in the exhaust gas from the main engine, involving the entire value chain for handling CO2, including liquefaction and storage onboard the vessel.

Seatrium’s key scope of work includes basic design, detailed engineering, procurement, upgrading of electrical and automation systems, as well as the integration of a carbon capture and compression/storage system.

Tor Ask, Fleet Director of Solvang ASA, said, “Solvang is pleased to partner with Seatrium for our full-scale pilot project for CO2 capture onboard Clipper Eris. We have enjoyed many years of successful partnerships and Seatrium has a strong track record for decarbonisation retrofit works, including the installation of Exhaust Gas Cleaning System (EGCS) for four of our Very Large Gas Carriers (VLGCs). The selection of Seatrium aligns with our strategic direction of delivering energy efficient solutions and green energy services for a lower carbon future. The technology will be piloted onboard the vessel over a year while it is operating commercially. If the pilot project is successful, Solvang intends to install the technology on some of our vessels, including newbuilds, thereby contributing to a faster take-up of the technology.”

Alvin Gan, Executive Vice President of Seatrium Repairs and Upgrades, said, “We would like to thank Solvang for entrusting Seatrium with this milestone project and for taking our long existing partnership to a new level of collaboration in support of our collective energy transition goals. We are excited to be part of this game-changing world’s first full-scale turnkey pilot CCS retrofit. At Seatrium, we are committed to advancing environmental sustainability through the development of industry-leading solutions and the seamless execution of our projects. Our collaboration with Solvang on Clipper Eris will further boost our strong track record in the areas of maritime decarbonisation upgrades and retrofits which are expected to continue to grow in the coming years.”