The Global Center for Marine Carbon Reduction (GCMD) and Equinor have initiated a five-year collaboration aimed at developing value chains for alternative fuels and carbon. This partnership is designed to leverage GCMD's capabilities in conducting marine trials and Equinor's experience in providing low-carbon fuels.
Development of Alternative Marine Fuels
GCMD is working on alternative fuels such as biodiesel, ammonia, and methanol, focusing on two key aspects: operational safety and strong monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV). The center's trials and studies produce operational data to support the safe handling and transport of these fuels while conducting assessments to enhance confidence in the quality and quantity of these fuels.
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Equinor's Experience in the Marine Fuel Market
Equinor brings its extensive experience as a marine fuel supplier and ship charterer, including the chartering of dual-fuel LNG, LPG, and methanol vessels, to this collaboration. The company is also testing and utilizing biodiesel and supplying methanol for the marine sector. Additionally, Equinor is experimenting with and supplying ammonia as a marine fuel and is contributing to the development of related safety and regulatory arrangements.
The combination of these two perspectives can help overcome practical barriers to the adoption of alternative fuels while simultaneously ensuring the integrity of emerging marine fuel value chains.
Accelerating the Adoption of Marine Carbon Reduction Solutions
In addition to alternative fuels, GCMD is focused on accelerating the adoption of solutions that can reduce pollutant emissions from the existing fleet, including energy efficiency technologies (EETs) and onboard carbon capture systems (OCCS). The center demonstrated a complete value chain for liquid carbon and its storage in the CAPTURED project, gathering evidence that aids in identifying CO2 captured under the EU ETS.
Equinor also adds value to this collaboration with decades of experience in offshore CO2 storage, including its role in the development and operation of the Northern Lights project, the world's first cross-border CO2 transport and storage facility. In this project, liquid CO2 is transported by ship to a marine terminal and then sent via pipeline for permanent storage beneath the North Sea.
Through this collaboration, GCMD and Equinor will explore opportunities to combine their capabilities and experiences to support the adoption and scaling of marine carbon reduction solutions.
