Wärtsilä, the Finnish technology company, has launched a commercially available onboard carbon capture and storage (OCCS) system following the successful full-scale trial on the Solvang ASA-operated ethylene carrier, Clipper Eris. The system has achieved a CO2 emissions reduction of up to 70% and is hailed by the company as a ‘step-change in shipping’s decarbonisation journey’.
The Clipper Eris pilot, the world’s first full-scale OCCS installation, began operating in early 2025 after a retrofit at Seatrium’s shipyard in Singapore. During the retrofit, the vessel was also equipped with Wärtsilä’s scrubbers and exhaust gas cleaning systems to capture emissions from all exhaust sources. The OCCS solution is engineered to operate with a range of marine fuels, including heavy fuel oil (HFO), marine gas oil (MGO), methanol, and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
According to the company, the system is scalable and suitable for both retrofit and newbuild projects. The total cost of capture ranges from €50 to €70 (US$54 to US$76) per tonne of CO2, encompassing both capital and operational costs. These factors position OCCS as a cost-effective, near-term method of emissions abatement while the industry awaits scalable and commercially viable low- and zero-carbon fuels.
Edvin Endresen, CEO of Solvang ASA, commented: ‘While the shipping sector continues to explore options for lessening its environmental impact, CCS provides a significant shortcut for achieving meaningful sustainability. […] As one of the more promising solutions for marine decarbonisation, it was important for us to team up with an experienced and trusted partner such as Wärtsilä and we are excited at the potential its CCS offering will bring to our business.’
Wärtsilä reports that it has received early orders for CCS-ready equipment, including a contract with Leonhardt & Blumberg for three containerships. The company’s modular technology, which is suitable for both retrofits and newbuilds, opens up the potential for widespread adoption, particularly for operators seeking to future-proof assets in an evolving regulatory landscape.
‘CCS is a game-changer for the maritime industry,’ said Håkan Agnevall, President and CEO of Wärtsilä, ‘and we are already seeing huge interest in the market for this solution. Ahead of shipping’s net-zero targets, this new technology complements the industry’s ongoing efforts to dramatically reduce emissions from vessels and prevent stranded assets.’
Wärtsilä has invested heavily in the development of OCCS since 2019. The company operates a research facility in Moss, Norway, which is reportedly capable of capturing 10 tonnes of CO2 per day from marine engines. In addition to OCCS, Wärtsilä’s offerings include the development of green-fuel engines, voyage optimisation, and pollution control systems.
Solvang ASA, a strong industry advocate for OCCS, is actively preparing its next generation of vessels to be ready for OCCS technology. The Norwegian shipowner has secured support from ENOVA, Norway’s state enterprise dedicated to promoting environmentally friendly energy solutions, to facilitate the wider deployment of carbon capture solutions.
