SWOT Analysis of Carbon Capture, Storage, and Transportation for Maritime Industry

Abstract

Decarbonization strategies such as renewable energy, alternative fuels, and modifications on ships play an essential role in reducing global warming, but fossil fuel consumption is inevitable for meeting the sufficient energy demand. On the other hand, CO2 is one of the reasons for global warming, which can be mitigated by using a carbon capture system. Up to 90% CO2 reduction can be achieved by using a carbon capture unit on a ship. Carbon capture technologies are used in power plants, cement, and the steel industry. Also, after the introduction of stricter rules and the announcement of the decarbonization target by the International Maritime Organization, some studies are started to be made on using carbon capture in maritime transportation. This chapter reviews the carbon capture technologies such as absorption, adsorption, membrane, chemical looping, cryogenic and biological, also oxy-fuel combustion, pre-combustion, and post-combustion methods. In addition, means of storage, transportation, and utilization of captured CO2 are explained. Finally, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threat analyses are done to investigate the benefits and drawbacks of carbon capture systems on vessels. Although high energy demand, storage, and transportation of the captured CO2 are the limiting factors of adopting a carbon capture system on a ship, its high CO2 capture rate makes carbon capture technologies a promising option to meet the recent and upcoming regulations in maritime transportation.