Startup CALCAREA and marine engineering firm AURELIA Design BV are collaborating to develop a bulk carrier with integrated carbon capture technology based on ocean processes.
Carbon capture technology
The proposal relies on the accelerated weathering of limestone, a process in which carbon dioxide reacts with seawater and limestone, transforming into bicarbonates that are safely stored in the ocean.
This system was developed by CALCAREA, takes advantage of the constant availability of seawater in the marine environment to capture and sequester CO₂ directly from cargo ships.
The AURELIA team will lead the architectural design of the vessel, fully integrating the CALCAREA capture reactor into the hull structure. Studies on flow dynamics, inlet and outlet configuration and energy efficiency will also be carried out, with the aim of minimizing fuel consumption without reducing cargo capacity.
This development is presented as a scalable technology for new constructions, enabling shipowners to integrate carbon capture systems from the design from the design phase. With the feasibility study underway, the plan is to move forward to the validation and approval in principle(AiP) phases for future operational implementation.
Pierre Forin, co-founder of CALCAREA, mentioned that maritime transport offers ideal natural conditions for this technology: “Ships operate surrounded by seawater, which makes the ocean an ally in permanent carbon sequestration. For his part, Raffaele Frontera, CEO of AURELIA, remarked that the project represents “a new generation of ship design that prioritizes regenerative solutions from the source“.
Source and photo: AURELIA
