Daewoo Shipbuilding Successfully Co-develops Carbon Capture and Storage Technology for Ships with HiAir Korea

Ammonia Water-Based Carbon Dioxide Capture... Competitiveness Increased Through Innovative Technology

[Asia Economy Reporter Hwang Yoon-joo] Daewoo Shipbuilding & Marine Engineering (DSME) has developed a technology for capturing and storing carbon dioxide (CCS) from engine exhaust gases generated during ship operation in collaboration with domestic equipment suppliers.

On the 16th, DSME announced that it successfully verified shipboard carbon dioxide capture and storage technology using Hi-Air Korea's exhaust purification technology. This technology utilizes an ammonia water absorbent, and more than 20 domestic and international patent applications related to this technology have already been completed.

The carbon dioxide capture and storage technology developed by DSME uses ammonia water to capture and store large amounts of carbon dioxide through a wet capture process and mineral carbonation technology. Depending on the scale of the equipment, the amount of carbon dioxide absorbed can be designed variably, and the absorbent can be regenerated and reused, resulting in minimal loss.

Carbon dioxide is a representative greenhouse gas emitted from ships. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) plans to strengthen policies regulating greenhouse gas emissions, including carbon dioxide, based on the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI/EEXI) standards. Ships that fail to meet these regulations face many operational restrictions, reducing their competitiveness in the shipping market. One of the technologies developed this time, mineral carbonation technology, theoretically has the capability for permanent storage and sequestration of carbon dioxide, which can also greatly aid resource recycling in the future.

In particular, as ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) management has become important not only in Korea but globally, major shipowners in Europe, the United States, and other regions are demanding high-level eco-friendly technologies. As a result, DSME's carbon dioxide capture and storage technology is expected to provide new solutions to shipowners and actively respond to environmental regulations, helping to strengthen future competitiveness.