China has set the goal of striving to peak CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, which is also the country’s solemn commitment to the international community. As shipping transports around 90% of global trade, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has introduced new carbon intensity measures which enter into force in 2022, with a stimulus to reduce carbon intensity of all ships by 40% by 2030 compared to 2008 baseline. China’s shipping industry emits 120 million tons of CO2 annually, which is the most in the world and accounts for 15% of all emissions. Reducing the carbon emissions of the Chinese and worldwide shipping industries is thus a significant challenge.
CIMC OFFSHORE start the recent project kick off meeting which by utilizing membrane CCUS technology in capturing emissions from vessels to satisfy such demand. The project was funded by Shenzhen government as Shenzhen Municipal Technology Breakthrough Project, CIMC OFFSHORE lead the project execution with its technical partners Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT), and Nanhai West Oil Oilfield Service (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd of CNOOC.
The signing and opening ceremony of the project was held in Shenzhen on March 23. Presided by General Manager Chen Yunshui (CIMC Offshore); GTIIT Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Moris Eisen, Associate Professor He Xuezhong (CE), GTEC Director Michael Lv; and General Manager Xu Haidong (Nanhai West Oil Oilfield Service) attended the event. After full exchange and consultation, all sides reached a consensus on the R&D content of carbon capture storage on ships.
The “Marine Membrane Carbon Capture Devices and Membrane Technology Research and Development” project is up-to-date to meet the developing CCUS (carbon capture, utilization and storage) technology. It takes the favorable opportunity of the adjustment of international marine engineering equipment market to gain the upper hand in technology – the main research focus on the process of membrane carbon capture, membrane module and devices to provide more options to reduce carbon emissions.