Green Ray project to minimise methane slip from LNG-fuelled engines

(Posted on 28/02/23)

A consortium including technology group Wärtsilä has secured European Union funding to develop solutions minimising methane slip from marine engines, advancing the environmental and climate benefits of LNG as a ship fuel.

Coordinated by VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, the Green Ray project brings together several companies from across the shipping value chain: shipyard Chantiers de l’Atlantique, ship owner CMA CGA, classification society DNV, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, ship manager MSC Cruises Management, non-profit organisation Revolve Water and energy major Shell.

The project will develop on-engine technologies for low-pressure dual-fuel engines – both 2- and 4-stroke – as well as a novel aftertreatment concept. These solutions will be advanced to a high state of technology readiness, including demonstrators installed on two newbuilds and one retrofitted to an existing vessel. All the technologies developed in Green Ray will also be fully capable to utilize bio- or synthetic methane instead of fossil LNG.

Wärtsilä will develop technology specifically for low pressure 4-stroke dual fuel engines that enables methane slip reduction, increases efficiency and lower operational costs at all engine loads. This technology targets the largest four-stroke engines on the market as widely used by cruise ships, ferries and gas carriers.

Wärtsilä will also develop an on-engine technology for 2-stroke engines around a patented LNG injection system to reduce methane slip from tankers, container ships, etc. Both technologies will be demonstrated at sea in real application during the project in collaboration with the Green Ray partners.

The use of LNG as a marine fuel is accelerating, driven by a well-developed supply infrastructure, a clear transition to cleaner fuels and significant air pollution and climate benefits. The issue of methane slip – unutilized and thus unburned fuel escaping into the atmosphere from engines and across the production and supply chain – is seen as one of the main challenges to wider uptake.

“Methane slip has become an important factor in ship owners’ decisions about whether to use LNG fuel,” said Kati Lehtoranta, Principal Scientist, VTT. “ With these promising technologies we aim to reduce the slip contributing directly to reduction of the total greenhouse gas emissions, opening this pathway to even wider segment of the maritime market.”

Shell has developed a proprietary methane abatement catalyst system that has been lab tested and scaled up to a field demonstration, where it was proven to be effective not only in significantly reducing methane slip (over 90%), but also in handling typical compounds that can degrade the catalyst, via the inclusion of a guard bed.

“Shell’s climate ambition to become a net-zero emissions energy business by 2050 will require us to explore a range of avenues that have the potential to help us, our partners, and customers to decarbonise the existing LNG value chain. We are continuously working to improve the value proposition of LNG through dedicated technology research, and we are keen to develop potential solutions to minimise methane slip at such a relevant project as Green Ray,” explains Alexander Boekhorst, VP Gas Processing and Conversion Technology at Shell.

“This research will allow us to build on the continuous improvements made in reducing methane slip from engines over the past twenty years,” said Sebastiaan Bleuanus, General Manager, Research Coordination & Funding, Wärtsilä Marine Power. “Taking these solutions for newbuilds and retrofits to near commercial readiness will be an important step for the long-term viability of LNG as a marine fuel.”

The project has received funding of around €7 million from Horizon Europe. It will run until 2027.

Latest News

Naples cargo operator invests in energy-efficient Konecranes Gottwald MHC

Magazzini Generali Silos Frigoriferi (MGSF), part of the Klingenberg Group, has ordered a Konecranes... Read more

FuelEU Maritime compliance strategy is commercial priority, says OceanScore

FuelEU Maritime represents a strategic headache for shipping companies on the same level as its technical... Read more

Wärtsilä upgrade to deliver emissions savings for Ulusoy bulk carriers

Technology group Wärtsilä will upgrade the Wärtsilä RT-flex main engines... Read more

Steelpaint secures major order for application on 39 bulk vessels

German coatings firm Steelpaint GmbH has secured a major order to supply its specialist Stelpant... Read more

BAR Technologies' WindWings a practical solution

In the wake of the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Marine Environment Protection Committee... Read more

Orderbook for all dry-bulk vessel classes falls by 26% Y-o-Y in Q1

Global economic uncertainty and a cooling of the market has seen newbuild orders for dry-bulk vessels... Read more

Alfa Laval expands its portfolio with NRG Marine acquisition

Alfa Laval has completed the acquisition of UK-based NRG Marine, a leading provider of ultrasonic anti... Read more

MBF and ZESTA MoU to accelerate zero-emission shipping

In a landmark moment for the global maritime industry, the Maritime Battery Forum (MBF) and the Zero... Read more

Bruks Siwertell Group announces leadership transition

Bruks Siwertell Group has announced a leadership transition as Peter Jonsson steps down as CEO after... Read more

ClassNK issues AiP for OceanWings Rigid Windsail Type WAPS

ClassNK has issued an approval in principle (AiP) for a Rigid Windsail Type Wind-Assisted Propulsion... Read more