Hitachi Zosen Corporation, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd, and YANMAR POWER TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. achieved a 93.8% of reduction rate (at an engine load rate of 100%) in the development of the technology to reduce the methane slip from LNG-fueled vessels through catalyst and engine improvements, according to MOL's release.
This project was adopted by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (hereafter, NEDO), and the achievement of the reduction rate was confirmed by ClassNK (NK) through the Statement of Fact (SOF) for the first time in the world.
The project aims to achieve a 70% or more reduction in methane slip from LNG-fueled vessels by combining methane oxidation catalyst and engine improvements during the six-year period from fiscal 2021 to fiscal 2026. It also aims to socially implement technology for reducing methane slip, which has not been established even on land, in the field of marine transportation, ahead of the rest of the world.
In 2022, Hitachi Zosen and the Yanmar PT developed the “Methane Oxidation Catalyst System”, which reduces methane slip by oxidizing methane emitted from marine engines fueled by LNG, and received NK's “Approval in Principle”. In December 2023, a land-based test achieved a reduction rate of 93.8%, far exceeding the target of more than 70%, by combining engine improvements with EGR and a methane oxidation catalyst system, and the vehicle was the first in the world to receive the SOF from NK. The results were highly evaluated and passed the screening by NEDO for selection for continued support in February 2024.
The demonstration test will start in the autumn of 2024 on a large coal carrier (vessel name: REIMEI) operated by MOL. In July 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a new plan to achieve zero emissions by around 2050, and the Maritime Cluster has been developing new technologies to convert ships' fuels into new fuels that emit less greenhouse gases. As for fuels for ships, methanol, ammonia and hydrogen are being considered as future option. However, the widespread use of LNG fuel is currently being promoted as a low emission fuel that is feasible at present. Nevertheless, while LNG fuel has the potential to reduce CO2 emissions, methane slip is an issue.