BP Shipping in advanced talks with Krystallon over the use of integrated laser and scrubber technology to reduce emissions
31/01/2007
BP Shipping said today it is in advanced talks with Krystallon over the use of integrated laser and scrubber technology to reduce emissions from its fleet of oil tankers, product carriers and liquefied natural gas vessels.
The use of this combined technology will allow BP Shipping to measure SOx and NOx and CO2 emissions more quickly, accurately and cost-effectively, eliminate sulfur dioxide (SOx) and reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM).
“BP Shipping has set ambitious targets for reduction in emissions and is working out ways to achieve the reductions,” said Krystallon Business Development Director Andy Osbourne. “They are discussing Cascade Lasers to measure their emissions and therefore have a proper and accurate account for the emissions inventory and are also taking the first steps in seawater scrubber evaluation.
“We are talking to them at the moment on a suitable vessel for installing scrubbers. This will most likely be on the US west coast, but it is possible that we may put one on a larger UK-based vessel operating in the North Sea/Baltic Sea. The survey of the US vessel looks like it will happen in early February.”
With the introduction of the North Sea sulphur emission control area (SECA) less than 10 months away and high level UK ship emissions talks due to take place in London in March, emissions reduction solutions are high on the industry agenda.
According to Krystallon, part of the BP Group, the integrated solution not only represents ‘a very significant advance on currently available technologies,’ but also strengthens the argument in favour of scrubbing technology as an extremely effective and efficient way to reduce emissions.
“With SECAs limiting maximum sulphur emissions to 1.5%, sea water scrubbers are likely to be the cheapest long-term solution for vessels spending a significant portion of their time in a control area. The answer to real emission reduction and future-proofing is not lower sulphur fuels,” he added.
The quantum cascade laser (QCL) technology, a system designed for detecting drugs, explosives and hazardous compounds, uses an electronic 'nose' to detect gases emitted, producing a chemical 'fingerprint' to identify the substance and is capable of measuring up to 5 engines from a single unit.
“The first step in managing emissions is to be able to measure emissions. Cascade’s technology enables practical and reliable continuous emissions monitoring of marine diesel engines and boilers to be achieved.”
Osbourne said. “The QCL is now fully integrated with our scrubbing system and provides extremely accurate results, more quickly and at a lower cost than any existing available alternative technology,”
Cascade's technology is also to be used to measure emissions on P&O Ferries’ Pride of Kent, the first commercial application of Krystallon sea water scrubbing technology. It will be integrated with Krystallon systems monitoring and data recording to provide long term emissions records based upon mobile source location and emission quantification. Web based data access is also being considered.
For enquiries from the media, journalists and researchers only, the Krystallon Press Office can be contacted on 01782 751939/ 07769 901932 or e-mail: pshirley@theprfirm.co.uk