ABB will supply the shaft generator system with permanent magnet technology for the first dedicated CO2 storage tanks ever built. The vessels will be built by Chinese shipbuilder Dalian Shipbuilding Industry Company (DSIC).
Due for delivery in 2024, the two vessels will support the Northern Lights carbon capture and storage (CCS) project by transporting greenhouse gases from industrial emitters to an onshore terminal in Øygarden, Norway. From there, the CO2 will be piped to dedicated reservoirs 2,600 meters below the seabed in the North Sea for permanent storage.
Each of the 130-meter vessels will be able to carry up to 7,500 cubic meters of liquefied CO2 in specially designed pressurized cargo tanks.
ABB says its permanent magnet shaft generator system is driven by the main engine, helping to increase vessel efficiency with fewer or smaller generator sets and minimizing capital and operating costs .
Additionally, ABB claims that its solution has a lower installation weight and footprint compared to a conventional solution, as well as high reliability and redundancy to enable over 99% availability, and safety features integrated to help protect crew and equipment. The system’s customizable design and interface make it suitable for any type of vessel, says ABB.
ABB’s scope of supply also covers full engineering and commissioning services. Additionally, vessels will have access to the ABB Ability™ marine remote diagnostics system for continuous monitoring of equipment, optimized machinery and scheduled maintenance activities, as well as reduced maintenance costs.
In addition, ABB said in June 2022 that it would also supply the main electrical, automation and safety systems for the Northern Lights project, enabling remote operation of the terminal and ensuring the facility operates at peak efficiency. . ABB’s permanent magnet shaft generator system further supports the project philosophy by delivering improved vessel fuel economy and reduced emissions.
Northern Lights, a joint venture between Equinor, Shell and Total, is the first CCS project to develop an open and flexible infrastructure to store CO2 from industries across Europe. The first phase of the project is due to be completed in mid-2024 and will have the capacity to permanently store up to 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year, with the ambition to increase to more than five million tonnes per year in a second phase.
ABB cited an IEA report that today CCS installations around the world have the capacity to capture more than 40 million tonnes of CO2 from power and industrial installations.
Although transporting captured CO2 to permanent storage locations by pipeline is already deployed on a large scale, it can present a challenge when the capture point is further from a storage facility. Ships offers a flexible solution for transporting CO2 over long distances, ABB said.
