Italy-based exhaust gas cleaning company Ecospray, part of the Carnival Group, has brought its amine-based carbon capture solution for the shipping sector to the market.
One of the system’s most distinctive advantages is its high energy efficiency: it can reduce energy consumption by up to 50% compared to similar technologies, which is considered a significant step forward in making carbon capture more competitive and sustainable for maritime applications. The system, designed for easy integration on existing vessels, will allow the capture of up to 80% of CO2 emitted during ship operation in specific conditions.
The technology is based on the chemical absorption of CO2 using an amine solution. What is said to set Ecospray technology apart is its low-temperature regeneration process, which transforms waste heat from ship engines into a valuable resource. This approach is intended to not only deliver substantial energy savings compared to traditional high-temperature methods, but also to simplify onboard integration while significantly lowering operational costs.
Over the past 18 months, Ecospray has further refined its solution – already successfully tested at sea in 2023 – through new pilot trials and advanced process modelling. As a result, the system now offers improved performance and a more compact design, making it suitable for widespread adoption across the maritime sector.
Maurizio Archetti, President, Ecospray, said: “We have combined our extensive experience in gas treatment with next-generation chemical capture technologies to offer a concrete, ready-to-go solution. Our objective is to make carbon capture not only technically feasible but also economically sustainable for shipowners. This technology, now commercially available, is designed to be integrated into a broader decarbonisation strategies and enables existing vessels to significantly reduce their emissions and comply the CO₂ reduction targets set by the IMO. It is also important to underline that, across all decarbonisation scenarios, carbon capture remains an essential tool for the next 20 to 30 years to achieve the mandated climate targets. For this reason, and to ensure international decarbonisation targets are met on time, it is essential that this technology be urgently and fully integrated into regulatory frameworks, enabling large-scale applicability and accelerating its widespread adoption”.
Carbon capture technologies form part of the ongoing effort to make the maritime industry more sustainable. For years, Ecospray has been supporting shipowners in selecting the most effective solutions to reduce the global shipping industry’s environmental impact. In this context, EGCSs (scrubbers) are a fundamental first step toward adopting carbon capture technologies. In addition to significantly reducing harmful emissions such as SOx and particulate matter, scrubbers also pre-treat exhaust gases, improving the efficiency and durability of subsequently installed carbon capture systems. Furthermore, they cool exhaust gases to below 50°C – the temperature required for carbon capture – eliminating the need for additional cooling systems.
Another key area of action to support the sustainable transition is the Methane Slip Reduction system developed by Ecospray, which uses catalytic oxidation technology to remove methane slip from dual fuel LNG/oil fuel engines. It is designed to reduce emission levels up to 95%, using oxidation catalyst substrates with PGM (Platinum Group Metal) to oxidise methane.
Image: Ecospray President Maurizio Archetti (source: Ecospray)
