K Line, Tokyo Gas team up on liquefied CO2 marine transportation for CCS

Japanese shipping company Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K Line) has reached an agreement with compatriot gas supplier Tokyo Gas to work on a joint study of liquefied carbon dioxide (CO2) marine transportation to achieve carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS).

As disclosed, the companies will carry out a simulation of marine transportation of liquefied CO2 to storage sites in Japan and in the Asian-Pacific region for CO2 emitted in the Tokyo metropolitan area, as well as study its economic efficiency and operations relating to the transportation of liquefied CO2 by ship.

Based on the findings of this study, the partners aim to help achieve carbon neutrality in the Tokyo region with various types of carbon management solutions including CCS.

The Japanese government believes CCS to be one of the significant methods for achieving carbon neutrality and aims to enable the storage of 120 to 240 million tons of CO2 per year in 2050.

According to K Line, the final report of the study group for a long-term CCS roadmap suggests that the use of the promising storage potential overseas is one strong option. This requires the liquefaction of CO2 and marine transportation of the liquefied CO2 to a place suitable for CO2 storage.

K Line is promoting a variety of initiatives to support the low-carbon and carbon-free of its own operations and society following its long-term environmental policy.

In the field of CCS, the firm is planning to start the world’s first full-scale carbon capture and storage transport next year. It is expected that liquefied CO2 carriers will sequentially begin to operate in Japan and overseas in the future.

“K Line will incorporate knowledge acquired from operations, including this study, into its future development of businesses with the aim of realizing a sustainable society and increasing its corporate value,” the shipping company noted.

To remind, K Line has signed charter deals for three LCO2 carriers under Northern Lights project, a joint venture involving energy giants Shell, Equinor, and TotalEnergies.

The newbuilds, which will combine LNG-powered propulsion with wind-assisted technology and air lubrication, are being built at China’s Dalian Shipbuilding Offshore Co. (DSOC).

In December 2023, Northern Lights placed the order for a fourth CO2 ship, sister to the developing ones currently under construction.