ABB has been selected to deliver the shaft generator system with permanent magnet technology for the first dedicated CO2-storage vessels.
Due for delivery in 2024, the two vessels will support the Northern Lights carbon capture and storage (CCS) project by transporting greenhouse gas from industrial emitters to an onshore terminal in Øygarden, Norway.
From there it will be transferred via pipeline for permanent storage in dedicated reservoirs 2,600 metres under seabed of the North Sea.
“Addressing the world’s energy challenges requires a constant push for innovation and we are proud to make a difference with our leading technology,” said said Rune Braastad, global business line manager, marine systems at ABB Marine & Ports.
”Transporting captured emissions by ships will be key to the success of the Northern Lights project, paving the way for further developments to help accelerate decarbonisation in heavy industry sectors.”
Fuel efficiency
Each of the 130-metre ships will be able to carry up to 7,500 cubic metres of liquefied CO2 in purpose-built pressurised cargo tanks.
ABB’s permanent magnet shaft generator system will increase the fuel efficiency of these vessels, reducing emissions as a result.
Combining this technology with variable speed engines allows harvesting power for all onboard systems through the rotating force of the shaft, significantly improving performance compared to a traditional setup with fixed speed engines.
Back in June 2022, ABB also announced that it will deliver the main electrical, automation and safety systems for the Northern Lights project, enabling the remote operation of the terminal and ensuring that the facility runs at optimum efficiency.
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 mid-2024 and will have the capacity to permanently store up to 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 per year, with the ambition to expand to over five million tonnes annually in a second phase.
