---

Working closely with local partners, DNV’s Research & Innovation Centre in Piraeus, Greece is taking a leading role in the development of maritime carbon capture technology and is working towards new solutions for energy management and logistics.

Established in 2008, and working in cooperation with the School of Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering of the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA), DNV Research & Innovation Greece works to develop solutions that provide Greek shipowners with access to innovative green technologies and quality decision support tools.

In 2009, DNV partnered with Process Systems Enterprise Ltd, one of the world's foremost providers of process modelling technology, to initiate the Maritime CCS (Carbon Capture & Storage) project. The project has received support and funding from the EU, the UK’s Technology Strategy Board and the Norwegian Research Council under the Eureka-Eurostars’ instrument, established to encourage international collaborative research and development projects.

According to Nikolaos Kakalis, Head of DNV Research & Innovation Greece, the Maritime CCS project is developing an onboard process for chemical capture and temporary storage of CO2 emissions for ships in transit until discharge into transmission and storage infrastructures at the next suitable port.

“Carbon capture at sea is a completely new concept, with no current end-to-end solution available. Our challenge is to manage issues relating to the unique marine environment, limited space onboard, constant movement, energy efficiency, and strict safety and environmental requirements. The solution must not only manage these issues, but should be relatively easy to install, operate and maintain,” said Kakalis.

In addition, DNV Research & Innovation Greece is developing a tool for performance assessment and optimization of marine energy systems aimed at increasing fuel savings and reducing emissions, both for ships in operation and the design of newbuilds.

The centre also develops decision support tools for optimal fleet sizing and allocation, as well as routing, deployment and speed optimization.

“In response to more stringent environmental regulations and complex market conditions, we see an increased demand for innovative solutions towards increased efficiency and greener operations,” said Kakalis. “Our R&D activities, together with the carbon capture initiatives, lead to new approaches and technologies which will provide Greek shipowners with access to next-generation solutions for achieving more energy-efficient, environmentally friendly and effective maritime transportation.”