Rotterdam-based sustainability innovator Value Group (Value Maritime and Value Carbon) has secured Energietransitiefonds Rotterdam (‘ETF-R’) as an investor.
The fund’s investment will drive the further development of the Value Hub for CO₂ offloading and processing in Rotterdam. The technology captures emitted CO₂ onboard the ship, stores it, and allows it to be effectively reused or stored elsewhere, benefiting the industry and the Port of Rotterdam from emissions reduction enabled by the technology.
Value Maritime, part of the Value Group, is the developer and installer of one of the first commercially viable hybrid CO2 capture and exhaust gas cleaning systems, known as Filtree. This system not only captures and stores CO₂ but also cleans sulphur, ultra-fine particulate matter, and CO2 from ships’ exhaust as well as oil residue and particulate matter from the wash water. As a result, the Filtree System supports compliance with current and future environmental regulations.
The key to the Filtree System is its integrated carbon capture feature which allows ships to store the CO2 they collect onboard in dedicated fixed tanks or non-fixed battery containers. These onboard storage facilities can then be sustainably offloaded in port for reuse or further storage, managed by Value Maritime’s sister company, Value Carbon.
Value Group Co-Founder and Director Maarten Lodewijks said: “With InnovationQuarter as a new shareholder, Value Group gains a strong strategic partner to accelerate the development of our Value Hub in Rotterdam for CO₂ offloading and processing. This partnership not only strengthens the realisation of this Value Hub as a blueprint for future Value Hubs but also drives the ongoing expansion and innovation of our patented Carbon Capture technology.”
With ETF-R’s €2m investment and further active support from InnovationQuarter, Value Group aims to accelerate the development of its Value Hub in Rotterdam. The Value Hub will manage the CO₂ offloading from ships and ensure efficient, sustainable processing.
Meanwhile, a pilot agriculture programme demonstrates the practical application, using captured CO₂ to enhance photosynthesis and plant growth, showcasing a sustainable solution.
InnovationQuarter/ ETF-R Senior Investment Manager Reinaud Struycken said: “We are very happy to be able to invest in a sustainable company that supports the reduction of CO₂ emissions in Rotterdam and beyond. Their innovative ‘catch and release’ technology perfectly aligns with our vision for a cleaner and more sustainable Rotterdam. They serve as a prime example of how carbon capture and storage technology can benefit this and other sectors. ETF-R is looking forward to helping Value Group grow.”
Image: Value Maritime’s Filtree system captures and stores emitted CO2 on board the vessel (source: Value Group)
