Following initial tests in 2024, the Finnish greentech company, Langh Tech, will go to market with an innovative onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) solution with commercial installations taking place next year.
Langh Tech is expanding its portfolio of exhaust gas treatment solutions following a successful OCCS pilot project performed onboard a ship owned by its sister company, Langh Ship. The vessel has been operating in test-mode throughout 2024 and has demonstrated a possible capture rate of over 80% from exhaust gas flow entering the system. The vessel’s overall CO2-emissions can be reduced by at least 20-30%, depending on available space, as well as other ship and product specifications.
The unique feature of Langh Tech’s innovative carbon capture solution is that it opens up the possibility for ship operators to utilise and sell the sodium carbonate produced through the onboard chemical process. The commercial value of the carbon that is captured by their OCCS technology is essential to creating a circular economy in the maritime sector.
Components required for production have been sold to Damen Shipyards Group who will undertake the first commercial installations onboard four bulk carriers in early 2025. These vessels will be equipped with a hybrid scrubber system and an additional OCCS systems from Langh Tech.
Rutger van Dam, Business Development Manager of Damen Shipyards Group noted: “The decision to choose Langh Tech was simple. CO2 capturing is the only economic way to drastically reduce emissions as of now. My main concern was the value of the CO2 end product being created onboard the ship. Langh Tech delivered on every front: a high capture rate, a high-value CO2 end product, and a significant reduction in emissions. From a commercial perspective, it made perfect sense. On a personal note, we share the same vision and goal: to greenify the global fleet. That alignment made Langh Tech the natural choice.”
The installations by Langh Tech are part of a project between Atal Solutions, BAM Shipping and Damen Shipyards Group. By retrofitting ships with different technologies, this collaboration aims to reduce fuel consumption to achieve a maximum reduction in CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions, while using traditional fuels.
The ultimate project goal is to bring CO2 emissions down by up to 60% through OCCS technology. This could be achieved through the continuous development of the system itself, as well as optimizing other limiting factors, such as installation size and onboard space, ship efficiency, loading and operations, or voyage planning.
Edwin Sieswerda, Founder and CEO of Atal Solutions, said: “This partnership with Damen Shipyard Group and Langh Tech showcases how innovative collaboration drives meaningful change. Atal’s vision and willingness to embrace bold solutions demonstrate how we can address the challenges of decarbonization while unlocking economic and environmental benefits for the maritime sector. By investing in Langh Tech’s onboard carbon capture technology, we’re not just setting a new benchmark for sustainable shipping—we’re also paving the way for future projects and ongoing transformation in the industry. It’s a big leap, but one that aligns with our shared commitment to building a more sustainable future.”
Laura Langh-Lagerlöf, Commercial Director of Langh Tech, said: “Our onboard carbon capture solution gives shipowners and operators the possibility to decarbonize and balance their costs. The scarcity and significantly higher costs of carbon-neutral fuels are a substantial hurdle to the decarbonisation of shipping. It will take time until those fuels can be widely used and afforded. We are here to bridge this gap and help companies to decarbonize efficiently and according to their abilities. At the same time, it is important to emphasize that the captured CO2 can also be used in the production of biofuels and synthetic fuels. Thus, our technology – if applied smartly – contributes to a green-fuel transition by setting up a circular economy.”
Source: Langh Tech