Finnish green tech company Langh Tech is expanding its portfolio of exhaust gas treatment solutions for ships by an innovative system for onboard carbon capture (OCC).
Langh Tech’s OCC system features the possibility to sell and utilise the sodium carbonate residue from the chemical process involved, for diverse applications in other industries. Thus, Langh Tech says it combines the environmental benefits of decarbonisation with creating additional value by selling and utilising the waste product, which marks a significant contribution to creating a circular economy.
A pilot project with an OCC installation onboard of one vessel of sister company Langh Ship was successfully run in test-mode during 2024. The pilot plant showed that it is possible to capture rates over 80% from the exhaust gas flow coming into the system. The overall CO2 emissions can be reduced at least by 20-30%, depending on available space, and other ship and product specifications.
The first commercial installations are due to take place early in 2025 onboard of four bulk carriers, installed by Damen Shipyards Group. These ships will be equipped with a hybrid scrubber and an additional onboard carbon capture system from Langh Tech.
Rutger van Dam, Business Development Manager, Damen Shipyards said:” The decision to choose Langh Tech was simple. CO2 capturing is the only economic way to drastically reduce emissions as of now. My main concern was the value of the CO2 end product being created onboard the ship. Langh Tech delivered on every front: a high capture rate, a high-value CO2 end product, and a significant reduction in emissions. From a commercial perspective, it made perfect sense. On a personal note, we share the same vision and goal: to greenify the global fleet. That alignment made Langh Tech the natural choice.”
The installations by Langh Tech are part of a project between Atal Solutions, BAM Shipping and Damen Shipyards Group. It aims at retrofitting ships with different technologies and to reduce fuel consumption to achieve a maximum reduction in CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions, while using traditional fuels. The ultimate project goal is to bring CO2 emissions down by up to 60% with onboard carbon capture. This could be achieved through the continuous development of the system itself, as well as optimising other limiting factors, such as installation size and onboard space, ship efficiency, loading and operations, or voyage planning.
Edwin Sieswerda, Founder and CEO Atal Solutions said: “This partnership with Damen Shipyard Group and Langh Tech showcases how innovative collaboration drives meaningful change. Atal’s vision and willingness to embrace bold solutions demonstrate how we can address the challenges of decarbonization while unlocking economic and environmental benefits for the maritime sector. By investing in Langh Tech’s onboard carbon capture technology, we’re not just setting a new benchmark for sustainable shipping—we’re also paving the way for future projects and ongoing transformation in the industry. It’s a big leap, but one that aligns with our shared commitment to building a more sustainable future.”
Laura Langh-Lagerlöf, Commercial Director Langh Tech said: “Our onboard carbon capture solution gives shipowners and operators the possibility to decarbonise and balance their costs. The scarcity and significantly higher costs of carbon-neutral fuels are a substantial hurdle to the decarbonisation of shipping. It will take time until those fuels can be widely used and afforded. We are here to bridge this gap and help companies to decarbonise efficiently and according to their abilities. At the same time, it is important to emphasise that the captured CO2 can also be used in the production of biofuels and synthetic fuels. Thus, our technology – if applied smartly – contributes to a green-fuel transition by setting up a circular economy.”
Langh Tech’s onboard carbon capture system is based on the long-standing experience of the company in exhaust gas treatment and applies a post-combustion technique. In short, the ship’s exhaust gases containing CO2 are directed into a capture unit. CO2 dissolves into the liquid phase through counter-currently flowing aqueous NaOH solution. A maximised surface area ensures highest possible carbon capture rates. As a result of several consecutive reactions, CO2 is chemically bound into a thermodynamically stable product of sodium carbonate.
Throughout the whole development process of its onboard carbon capture-system, Langh Tech followed a circular approach. The system does not only reduce emissions but utilises the waste product. This creates monetary value and avoids and reduces emissions in the value chain of other industries.
In comparison to other carbon capture technologies, which are mostly based on amines, Langh Tech claims certain advantages for its onboard carbon capture technology:
- Value creation and circular economy approach: Sodium carbonate, the solid product, which results in the end of the OCC process, can be monetised, being widely applied as a key ingredient by various other industries, for example in the manufacturing of glass and detergents.
- Lower consumption of energy and other resources: With Langh Tech’s post-combustion capture, there is no need for solvent regeneration or CO2 compression, which significantly reduces additional energy consumption onboard, as well as the resources needed to operate the OCC system. No additional specialised equipment is needed. In turn, the capture reagent, sodium hydroxide, can be produced by electrolysis of sodium chloride using renewable energy. This ensures minimised emissions and sustainability over the whole lifecycle.
- Simple and safe operations: Langh Tech’s OCC system allows simple operation processes which do not require new specialised equipment. The used chemical is already applied and established in the maritime industry. The sodium carbonate can be collected in containers and be easily transported.
- Customisable and scalable solutions: Langh Tech’s OCC systems are designed with flexibility in mind. They can be adapted and scaled according to the specific needs of each vessel. This approach ensures a seamless integration of the technology into the existing ship infrastructure, offering a practical solution for a wide range of ship types.
Image: The life-cycle approach to OCC reduces CO2 emissions and creates monetary value (source: Langh Tech)
