CO₂LOS IV

Background
Brevik Engineering and SINTEF have collaborated for several years with industrial partners to develop improved logistics solutions for ship-based transport of CO₂. This project builds on the previous projects CO₂LOS II (2018–2020) and CO₂LOS III (2021–2023). Several partners have participated throughout all CO₂LOS projects, while new partners have also joined along the way.

The main objective of the CO₂LOS projects is to reduce costs and uncertainties related to CO₂ transport, thereby increasing industry interest in and opportunities for using CCS as an emissions reduction measure. The project investigates how CO₂ transport systems can be designed to reduce costs and emissions, and consequently energy and material use.

In CO₂LOS IV, the cost model developed in CO₂LOS III has been further refined and applied to realistic CCS handling cases. The project has focused on four different cases, each with distinct characteristics, in order to investigate a broad range of challenges. In addition, several cross-cutting issues that emerged through project workshops and discussions have been examined.

The objectives of the project are to:
• develop knowledge, experience, tools, and results that partners can apply in their own projects;
• reduce investment risk in CCS projects;
• improve the decision-making basis for future CCS projects;
• increase competence beyond the project partners through publications, conferences, and open reporting;
• serve as a meeting arena for different industries with a shared interest in CO₂ transport, enabling knowledge exchange and discussion of solutions.

The project is supported by a strong international partnership, with participants from the United States, Japan, Monaco, the United Kingdom, and Norway. CO₂ transport is a global sector, and it is important to understand developments across different regions, particularly regarding storage infrastructure. Through a strong consortium, the project has gained input and experience from work on planning, pilot-scale, and full-scale projects involving upscaling and modification of existing transport solutions, where cost reductions and efficient transport systems are essential.

Activities
In the CO₂LOS IV project, a wide range of analyses and case studies have been conducted to assess how CO₂ can be transported by ship in a safe, cost-effective, and climate-efficient manner.
The project work began with the definition and description of four realistic transport cases, two of which are based on existing and planned CCS projects in Europe and Asia. The cases cover both short and long transport distances, multiple emission sources, different loading strategies, and the use of return cargo. These cases have formed the basis for further analyses throughout the project.

A key activity in the project has been the further development of the CO₂LOS cost and emissions assessment tool. The tool has been expanded to calculate both costs and CO₂ emissions for different transport solutions and has been actively used to compare ship-based transport with pipelines, different pressure levels, vessel sizes, and logistics configurations. The tool has also been applied in sensitivity analyses related to distance, volume, project lifetime, and discount rate.

For Case 1, which addresses transport from multiple industrial sources in the Baltic Sea region to storage in the North Sea, a structured screening of alternative transport solutions was carried out. Based on cost, regularity, risk, and flexibility, one main solution was selected and further developed. This solution was taken forward into a more detailed concept study of a CO₂ injection vessel, including high-level assessments of vessel design, propulsion, energy use, and loading and injection systems.

In Case 2, the potential for return cargo was investigated, focusing on the combination of CO₂ transport and transport of stone aggregates. Various vessel concepts, costs, operational conditions, and emissions were assessed. The analyses show that while return cargo may reduce emissions per transported tonne, such solutions involve increased complexity and lower technology maturity.

Case 3 focused on long-distance transport of CO₂, using an example route from Japan to Indonesia. Several scenarios were analysed to assess suitable vessel sizes, number of vessels, operating pressure, and sailing speed for long distances and warm climatic conditions. The study provides valuable insights into scalability, cost development, and technical challenges associated with global CO₂ transport chains.

In Case 4, co-loading and single-source transport were compared for different logistics configurations. The activity included cost and emissions analyses, with particular emphasis on how port time, vessel size, and terminal capacity influence overall economics and operational complexity.

In addition to the case studies, the project has addressed several cross-cutting technical topics. These include the development of a method for calculating boil-off rates for liquid CO₂ in pressure tanks, assessment of corrosion risks and the need for coating or cladding in CO₂ tanks, and qualification of materials for low operating temperatures in accordance with applicable regulations. These activities contribute to reducing technical uncertainty and support further design development and classification of CO₂ transport vessels.

The project has been active in disseminating results and participating in workshops and conferences. Several contributions were presented at the GHGT-17 conference. An overview of publications and reports from the project is available here: https://www.sintef.no/en/projects/2019/CO₂los-CO₂-ship-transport-new-solutions/publications/#menu

Achievment
CO₂LOS IV has investigated how CO₂ can be transported by ship in a practical and cost-effective manner as part of future CCS projects. The project has analysed several realistic transport solutions, including transport from industrial emission sources in Europe to storage in the North Sea, the use of return cargo, long-distance transport of CO₂ in Asia, and different approaches to shared shipping solutions for multiple sources.

An important outcome is the further development of a tool that enables comparison of costs and emissions for different transport solutions, including both ship-based transport and pipelines. The analyses confirm that pipelines are often the most cost-effective option over short distances, while ships offer greater flexibility and become increasingly competitive as distances increase. The project also demonstrates that emissions from the transport itself are small compared to the amount of CO₂ stored.

In addition, CO₂LOS IV has addressed specific technical challenges such as boil-off management, material selection for low-temperature operation, and protection of CO₂ tanks against corrosion. Overall, the project provides a useful and practically oriented basis for further planning and implementation of ship-based CO₂ transport.

Future plans
The cost and emissions assessment tool is expected to be applied in future projects to evaluate different transport solutions. Furthermore, the detailed case studies may serve as a solid starting point for initiating CCS projects, provided that the proposed solutions prove to be economically viable. The partners continue to collaborate on identifying new challenges and assessing whether additional stakeholders should be included in future cooperation.