Lomarlabs has partnered with Blue Dot Change to develop and test a compact, nature-based catalyst dispenser onboard, with the aim of accelerating the reduction of methane in the atmosphere.
The catalyst dispenser works by releasing iron-rich particles containing chloride into the air, which are then converted into vapor. Sunlight irradiates these particles, producing chlorine radicals, which can drive reactions that convert methane into two water and one carbon dioxide molecule in the atmosphere.
Lomar and Blue Dot Change will collaborate on the design and development of the prototype system, with preparations to install and deploy the first fully operational system on a Lomar vessel taking place sometime in late 2024 or early 2025.
According to the companies, ships are ideal testing grounds for this unproven and potentially transformational technology, as they already operate in an ideal environment for breaking down methane.
We are focused on catalysing new, environmentally driven technologies and believe this nature-centered approach has the potential to introduce systematic, gradual change in the way we remove methane from the air.
said Managing Director of lomarlabs, Stylianos Papageorgiou
The catalyst is independent of the ship’s emissions and will only be emitted when the meteorological conditions are optimal for it to work efficiently, the companies cleared out.
Furthermore, Blue Dot Change’s technology aims to alleviate the shipping industry’s methane footprint as there are no geological barriers to the wind blowing in an oceanic environment.
Together, we look forward to making a substantial impact on shipping’s net zero objectives while also providing a significant contribution to global climate repair.
added Blue Dot Change Co-Founder & CEO, David Henkel-Wallace
Meanwhile, Advisor of Blue Dot Change, Capt. Steve Bomgardner, highlighted that with the conclusion of MEPC80, as well as the updated 2023 GHG strategy, this collaboration further demonstrates how forward-thinking companies like Lomar focus on the ‘bigger picture’ of the industry’s greatest challenges.
The UK P&I Club has issued an alert addressing a situation on board one of their Members’ vessels concerning a coal cargo shipment from the East coast of the USA. The cargo is emitting dangerously high levels of methane.
The shipper’s cargo declaration, provided to UK P&I’s Member on this occasion, failed to include information about the methane emissions of the cargo, potentially violating the requirements of the IMSBC Code.
The Club is aware of at least two other incidents in the past year involving coal cargoes shipped from the East coast of the USA. Although these cargoes were correctly declared, they exhibited exceptionally high levels of methane emissions.
UK P&I Club advised Members who have loaded coal cargoes from the East coast of the USA and have concerns regarding methane emissions to contact the Club immediately.
supply chain. The project aims for FEED entry in 2024, FID in 2025, first e-methane production in 2029 and the commencement of export to Japan in 2030.
Through this initiative, the companies aim to further promote the introduction and wide use of e-methane to steadily contribute to the enhancement of Japan’s stable energy supply and the realization of carbon neutrality in 2050.
IEA: Methane emissions remained stubbornly high in 2022
term global warming. There is just no excuse.
..said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol. “The Nord Stream pipeline explosion last year released a huge amount of methane into the atmosphere. But normal oil and gas operations around the world release the same amount of methane as the Nord Stream explosion every single day.”
Stopping all non-emergency flaring and venting of methane is the most impactful measure countries can take to rein in emissions. Around 260 billion cubic metres (bcm) of methane is currently lost to the atmosphere each year from oil and gas operations. Three-quarters of this could be retained and brought to market using tried and tested policies and technologies. The captured methane would amount to more than the European Union’s total annual gas imports from Russia prior to the invasion of Ukraine.
Satellites are providing an ever-clearer picture of methane emissions and greatly increasing the world’s knowledge of emission sources. The IEA’s Global Methane Tracker incorporates their latest readings along with data from other science-based measurement campaigns. In 2022 alone, more than 500 super-emitting events were detected by satellites from oil and gas operations and a further 100 were seen at coal mines.
“The untamed release of methane in fossil fuel production is a problem that sometimes goes under the radar in public debate,” Dr Birol said. “Unfortunately, it’s not a new issue and emissions remain stubbornly high. Many companies saw hefty profits last year following a turbulent period for international oil and gas markets amid the global energy crisis. Fossil fuel producers need to step up and policy makers need to step in – and both must do so quickly.”
The IEA has developed a new regulatory roadmap and toolkit to guide actions by policymakers and companies seeking to reduce coal mine methane emissions. This sits alongside the similar publications on oil and gas released in previous years that have become the “go-to” source for policy makers and regulators looking to develop new and impactful methane regulations.
The Global Methane Pledge, launched in November 2021 at the COP26 Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, marked an important step forward by bringing governments together on this issue. The pledge now has around 150 participants that have collectively committed to reduce methane emissions from human activities by 30% by 2030.
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