Samsung develops carbon-capturing scrubber for LNG-powered vessels

A newly developed onboard capture and storage system (CCS) is expected to reduce emissions from both conventional and LNG-fuelled vessels.

PHOTO: The Gaslog Santiago LNG carrier built by Samsung in 2013. Samsung Heavy Industries

South Korean firms Samsung Heavy Industries and Panasia have received an approval in principle (AIP) from the Korean Register of Shipping (KR) for the scrubber system they have developed. The duo started working on the CCS technology in 2020 and are currently reviewing its performance at Panasia's facility in Jinhae.

The scrubber technology uses an amine-based liquid absorbent to separate and recover carbon dioxide from exhaust gases released by ship engines or generators.

“The combination of LNG propulsion technology and carbon capture technology is expected to be a realistic eco-friendly solution to the IMO's carbon emission regulations," says head of Samsung's eco-friendly research centre Park Geon-il.

Samsung considers to commercialise this system by 2024 for LNG-powered vessels.

If Samsung or others can make CSS scrubbers operationally and economically viable for installation on LNG-powered vessels, they could help curb LNG's carbon emissions, which are currently about a quarter compared to conventional oil-based bunker fuels.

LNG has so far been considered as a near-term solution to rein in shipping emissions, while less of a longer-term option to achieve zero emissions.