Lloyd’s Register’s business advisory team is partnering with energy companies ROTOBOOST and Amogy on a study to assess opportunities for emissions reductions in fuel cell and pre-combustion Carbon Capture Storage System (CCS). The project will evaluate the use of hydrogen fuel cells, ammonia and methane cracking technology, and CCS from a technical readiness, financial, and regulatory perspective.
The goal is to determine the technologies’ ability to reduce emissions and costs across a specific container feeder fleet compared to conventional fuels in response to EU ETS (Emissions Trading Scheme), FuelEU and IMO CII (Carbon Intensity Indicator) requirements.
The EU ETS and FuelEu are European Union regulations covering carbon markets designed to reduce carbon emissions. EU ETS has been in effect since 2005 but only began being applied to the maritime industry in 2024. IMO CII is a regulation of the International Maritime Organization with the same goal. The regulations aim to progressively reduce the amount of GHG emissions of each vessel and of the industry overall.
The shipping industry is responsible for roughly 3% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, primarily from the burning of fossil fuels. The industry is experimenting with various alternative fuels such as biofuels, carbon capture systems and green hydrogen.
The research will center on Amogy’s ammonia-to-electrical power system, ROTOBOOST’s Marine Hydrogen production technology and PowerCell’s Marine System 200 hydrogen fuel cell. It will also consider additional associated costs compared with other emerging fuels.
Jack Spiros Pringle, Lead Consultant, Business Advisory, Lloyd’s Register, said, “This (jointly developed project) JDP represents a significant step forward for alternative forms of propulsion as shipowners explore options to align with the new EU carbon market requirements and international regulations. As a trusted adviser to the maritime industry, Lloyd’s Register is working with partners to validate these innovative energy converters and ensure that they offer maximum savings and benefits.”
Lloyd’s Register issued a feasibility statement for Amogy’s Technology Qualification Plan in February this year and issued Approval in Principle to Rotoboost’s pre-combustion carbon capture system in March 2023.
“By removing carbon from LNG before it combusts, ROTOBOOST’s thermocatalytic decomposition process system transforms what would have become CO2 into a highly valuable solid carbon,” said Kaisa Nikulainen, CEO, ROTOBOOST. “This approach bridges the gap between economic viability and environmental sustainability. This Joint Development Project combines commercial and technical expertise to explore emerging emissions reduction technologies, ultimately driving shipping’s decarbonisation through truly sustainable solutions.”
