US maritime, energy, and logistics company Crowley and Carbon Ridge, a developer of modular onboard carbon capture and storage (CCS) solutions, is teaming up to launch a pilot project that will involving installing a small carbon capture system on board a Crowley container ship. The partnership is receiving assistance from the US Maritime Administration Maritime Environmental and Technical Assistance program. The collaboration includes the engineering, manufacturing, and integration of a small capacity version of Carbon Ridge’s full-scale carbon capture system on Crowley’s 2008-built M/V Storm, operated on Crowley’s Latin America service, according to the companies. The pilot project aims to capture 1 tonne of CO2 per day from the vessel’s main engine.
Partnerships Promotes Decarbonization in Asia Pacific
The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Santos announced the signing of a strategic collaboration agreement (SCA) that outlines a pathway toward the potential development of a joint global carbon management platform that could support the decarbonization journey of customers throughout Asia Pacific, according to a news release from the companies. The SCA will allow the companies to work together on carbon capture and storage technology and development of a CO2 shipping and transportation infrastructure network.
“ADNOC continues to build on its role in safely capturing and permanently storing carbon dioxide as we accelerate toward net zero by 2045 and target CCS capacity of 10 MMtpa [million tonnes per year] by 2030,” said Musabbeh Al Kaabi, Executive Director, Low Carbon Solutions and International Growth at ADNOC.
Wind and Solar To Surpass Coal
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA) said it expects, for the first year on record, combined electricity generation from wind and solar to surpass generation from coal in 2024. The EIA also said it expects generation in 2024 to increase 39% from 2023. “Renewables, particularly solar photovoltaics, are growing rapidly and making large contributions to electricity generation,” Joseph DeCarolis, EIA administrator, said in a news release.
FutureGrid Moves Forward
UK’s National Gas Transmission was awarded two Strategic Innovation funded projects by the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets to research the suitability of existing assets to transport hydrogen in the current National Transmission System as part of its FutureGrid project, which consists of development of a high-pressure hydrogen test facility. FutureGrid development began in 2021 in Cumbria, northern England, with Phase 1 commissioned in September 2023. The work continues with the aim of blending 100% hydrogen by end of January 2024, according to the company.
Environmental Concerns of Cement CO2
Cement production and processes were the topic of discussion as global technology intelligence firm ABI Research announced total spending on digitalization is forecast to reach $3.54 billion in 2033. Cement production and processes emit over 5% of all CO2 emitted by human activity, with environmental impact reduction a high priority for cement producers. “This is the dilemma for the industry and can be considered an opportunity for both engineers and technology suppliers to devise solutions to develop cement that can fulfill industries’ requirements while not decimating the environment,” said Michael Larner, industrial and manufacturing markets research director at ABI Research.
Report Says CCUS Expansion Needed in the North Sea
Global energy consultancy Xodus and Subsea7 released its “Forecasting the North Sea CCUS Infrastructure to 2050” report, which ranks the cost efficiency of different carbon capture, use, and storage (CCUS) initiatives at 560 potential storage sites, existing North Sea gas pipelines, and potential new infrastructures. The report found that 100 North Sea storage sites are needed to meet 2050 CCUS demand.
“If we’re to get to net zero in an orderly and timely manner, pioneering technologies like CCUS are a necessity, not an option. Fortunately, the North Sea’s world-class oil and gas industry provides the perfect foundation for the rollout of carbon capture, with the potential to repurpose and build around existing infrastructure,” said Steve Swindell, CEO of Xodus.
Iceland Develops Geothermal To Focus on Heating
Iceland’s Ministry of Environment, Energy, and Climate has approved $3.25 million in funding for eight new geothermal exploration projects. The Energy Fund announced in May that it would oversee the implementation of efforts in the search for and use of geothermal energy in the years 2023–25 with projects focusing on use of geothermal heat for general domestic heating in areas where now electricity or oil is used for central heating.
Empire Wind Receives Approval in New York
The US Department of the Interior announced its approval of Equinor and BP’s Empire Wind offshore project. The project includes two offshore wind farms, 816-MW Empire Wind 1 and 1,260-MW Empire Wind 2, with 147 turbines. The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management estimates the project will provide power to more than 700,000 homes across New York.
