MEPC 84: China calls for more progress on onboard carbon capture rules
China has urged the IMO to step up work on onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) in its submission to the IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC) ahead of its 84th session next month.
IMAGE: The Solvang vessel Clipper Eris is fitted with an onboard carbon capture and storage system built by Wartsila. Solvang
The submission flags a widening gap between policy development and commercial activity.
“The development of relevant OCCS guidelines appears to be progressing at a pace that may not fully keep pace with the significant investment interest currently being demonstrated by the market,” China says.
It adds that delays in setting clear rules for OCCS in shipping could weaken current momentum around the technology.
Moves to exclude OCCS pathways from default lifecycle emission values are “inappropriate,” according to China.
The IMO’s 2024 lifecycle assessment (LCA) guidelines are intended to allow “fair comparison” of greenhouse gas (GHG) performance across fuels and technologies.
“Excluding pathways containing OCCS entirely from the default emission value system contradicts this intention and may grant other emerging technologies an implicit advantage in the technology comparison benchmark,” China adds.
China also cautions against drawing firm conclusions too early on how OCCS should be treated within lifecycle boundaries, citing its “very limited experience in shipping compared to onshore applications.”
Instead, it calls for a more measured approach that maintains full lifecycle principles while allowing room for OCCS to develop as regulators work towards clearer guidance.
By Konica Bhatt
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