DNV Grants GASA Certificate to KNCC’s LCO2-EP Tank System, Advancing CO2 Transportation

DNV Grants GASA Certificate to KNCC’s LCO2-EP Tank System, Advancing CO2 Transportation

(IN BRIEF) DNV has awarded Knutsen NYK Carbon Carriers (KNCC) a General Approval for Ship Application (GASA) certificate for their LCO2-EP tank system, designed for transporting liquefied CO2. The innovative tank system, based on compressed natural gas principles, utilizes small-diameter pressure cylinders to store CO2 at ambient temperatures. This certification marks an important step in CO2 transportation and supports global decarbonization efforts. The collaboration between DNV and KNCC demonstrates progress in carbon capture and storage initiatives, ensuring safe and efficient CO2 transport for a sustainable future.

(PRESS RELEASE)  OSLO, 9-Jun-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — DNV, the independent expert in assurance and risk management, has awarded Knutsen NYK Carbon Carriers (KNCC) with a General Approval for Ship Application (GASA) certificate for their LCO2-EP tank system. This significant milestone in CO2 transportation was presented by Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, DNV Maritime CEO, to Svein Steimler, Chair of KNCC.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) plays a crucial role in achieving net-zero emissions as outlined in the Paris and Glasgow Agreements. To meet these ambitious goals, an estimated 6-7 gigatonnes of CO2 must be removed from the atmosphere annually starting from 2050. Much of this CO2 will need to be transported by ships, making CO2 transport a vital part of the emerging industry’s value chain.

“CCS is one of the key solutions for the world to reach its climate goals and KNCC has been established to play an essential role in the CCS value chain,” said Svein Steimler, Chair of KNCC. “Obtaining the GASA from DNV is a huge milestone and step forward for KNCC now being able to provide technically and commercially viable LCO2 marine transportation according to significant demand on a global basis.”

“The LCO2-EP containment system is not new technology but based on the development of Pressurized Natural Gas (“PNG”) technology and gas pipeline designs which is already proven,” said Trygve Seglem, Owner and President of the Knutsen Group and Vice Chair of KNCC. “Transporting LCO2 in ambient mode will offer cheaper and less energy consuming solutions through the entire CCS value chain from capture to final storage. It also has great synergy for direct injection offshore from the LCO2 carriers as CO2 injection must be done at high pressure and supercritical phase of CO2.”

“I am pleased KNCC has been making significant progress ever since its establishments in 2022 and appreciate the cooperation from all partners including DNV to achieve GASA,” Anders Lepsøe, CEO of KNCC. “Now with GASA in place we are opening up a new era of LCO2 designs which significantly strengthen the competitiveness of our offering of CO2 transportation. LCO2-EP containment system is one option but with support from both shareholders, NYKLine and Knusten Group we are also capable of offering middle pressure and low-pressure transportation service.”

“Enabling the transport of CO2 at the scale needed to achieve ambitious climate goals requires action today and long-term cooperation for the future,” said Knut Ørbeck-Nilssen, CEO Maritime at DNV. “We are very pleased to award the GASA to KNCC today, another step in the realization of this ambitious but vital project. This GASA is the result of the combined expertise of all the partners, and shows how with knowledge, experience and adaptability we can tackle the technical challenges and make a real difference to maritime decarbonization efforts.”

The LCO2-Elevated Pressure (LCO2-EP), formerly known as PCO2, tank system developed by KNCC is based on a cylinder-type CO2 containment approach inspired by compressed natural gas (CNG) transportation principles. The system stores CO2 at ambient temperatures (ranging from 0 to 10°C) in vertically stacked bundles of small-diameter pressure cylinders, eliminating the need for large cylindrical tanks operating at low temperatures. The utilization of small diameter cylinders helps mitigate pressure variations within the tubes, prevents dry-ice formation, and minimizes the sloshing effects of liquid CO2 when partially or fully loaded.

The GASA certificate is a significant progression from the Approval in Principle (AIP) granted to KNCC last year, highlighting the continued development and refinement of their innovative LCO2-EP tank system.

With the growing importance of decarbonization efforts, this recognition from DNV underscores the readiness and effectiveness of KNCC’s LCO2-EP technology in supporting the transportation of liquefied CO2. By facilitating safe and efficient CO2 transport, this advancement contributes to the broader mission of achieving global climate targets and paves the way for further advancements in the emerging CO2 transportation industry.

DNV, as a leading classification society, plays a crucial role in ensuring the safety and compliance of technologies and systems in the maritime sector. Their certification provides confidence in the reliability and adherence of KNCC’s LCO2-EP tank system to rigorous industry standards.

The collaboration between DNV and KNCC represents a significant step forward in enabling the effective and secure transportation of CO2, bolstering the development of carbon capture and storage initiatives in the pursuit of a sustainable and decarbonized future.

Media contact:

Margrethe Andersen
Head of External Communications, Maritime
Phone: +47 47 68 22 89
margrethe.andersen@dnv.com

SOURCE: DNV AS