Finnish technology company Wärtsilä has received its first order for carbon capture and storage (CCS)-ready scrubber systems, which are expected to be delivered in the year.
In particular, four 8,200 TEU container vessels, being built at an undisclosed Asian-based yard, will be fitted with Wärtsilä’s CCS-Ready 35MW scrubber in an open loop configuration.
The scrubbers are termed CCS-Ready because, as part of their installation, Wärtsilä will perform additional design and engineering work to ensure that future retrofits for a full CCS system on the vessels have already been accounted for during the newbuilding construction stage.
Wärtsilä said it will take measures to ensure adequate space for the future installation of the CCS system, incorporate considerations for minimising idle load and optimising utilities, and prepare the control and automation system accordingly.
Wärtsilä is currently testing its CCS system at a 70% capture rate and a pilot installation will take place within the next twelve months. Scott Oh, director at Wärtsilä’s Exhaust Treatment Asia, commented, “We are very excited to announce this world-first order for our CCS-Ready scrubber solution. By investing in a CCS-Ready scrubber, ship owners will futureproof their assets and enable a smooth transition to CCS adoption once the technology is mature in the very near future.”
