The JDP, with partners including ROTOBOOST, evaluates the technical, financial and regulatory opportunities of fuel cell and pre-combustion CCS technologies.
Ravi K, Global Head of BD & Sales at ROTOBOOST (left) met LR’s Chief Commercial Officer Andy McKeran for a ceremony to celebrate the partnership at SMM in Germany
Lloyd’s Register’s (LR) business advisory team is partnering with energy companies ROTOBOOST on a fuel cell and pre-combustion Carbon Capture Storage System (CCS) study to assess opportunities for emissions reduction. The joint development project (JDP) will evaluate the use of hydrogen fuel cells, ammonia and methane cracking technology and CCS from a technical readiness, financial and regulatory perspective.
Outcomes will determine the technologies’ ability to reduce emissions and costs across a specific container feeder fleet, in relation to EU ETS (Emissions Trading Scheme) FuelEU and IMO CII (Carbon Intensity Indicator) requirements, compared to conventional fuels.
ROTOBOOST’s Marine Hydrogen production technology, as well as PowerCell’s Marine System 200 hydrogen fuel cell will be central to the research, which also considers additional associated costs compared with other emerging fuels.
Jack Spiros Pringle, Lead Consultant, Business Advisory, Lloyd’s Register, said: “This 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.”
Kaisa Nikulainen, CEO, ROTOBOOST, said: “ROTOBOOST’s Marine Hydrogen technology not only generates solid carbon as a byproduct during the hydrogen production process, but also enables LNG to become a compliant fuel many years into the future, in addition to its wide availability and affordability. 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. 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.”
Lloyd’s Register issued Approval in Principle to ROTOBOOST’s pre-combustion carbon capture system in March 2023.