Image Source : https://vesseljoin.com/vessel/methane-kari-elin/ 

      In July 2023, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) revised its targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the shipping sector. The more ambitious goals aim to achieve net-zero emissions by or around 2050 compared to a 50% reduction in their previously agreed plan. Methane, as a potent greenhouse gas, is of concern to the industry as it could mitigate the achievement of this target. Shipping companies emit methane mainly through the use of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) as fuel. LNG is considered more environmentally friendly as it reduces sulphur and nitrogen emissions, but presents the problem of methane slips – leaks of incompletely combusted methane. Methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, with a warming potential 25 times greater than CO₂. This presents a problem for the industry in the context of climate change, because although LNG is considered a cleaner fuel, methane leaks can have a significant impact on the climate, potentially offsetting the benefits of reduced CO₂ emissions.

       Enter Bennu, a startup based out of Palo Alto, California, founded by scientists who were looking to make an impact in the environmental space. Bennu has been testing methane removal processes in its labs for several years and has developed a technology that focuses on the oxidative “down-conversion” of methane (sometimes called “cracking”) into less harmful products like carbon dioxide and water (H₂O) using a dual-wavelength ultraviolet (UV) approach. This process utilizes off-the-shelf germicidal UV lamps that produce 185 nm UV light, which generates ozone, and 254 nm UV light, which catalyzes downstream reactions. The technology is designed to be scalable and can be deployed across various industries, including shipping, waste management, and oil and gas sectors. 

Thanks to its positive results in the lab, Bennu was able to secure interest from Lomar Labs, the venture arm of Lomar Shipping. While the specific investment amount from Lomar Labs has not been disclosed, this collaboration aims to align Bennu’s technology with the shipping industry’s decarbonization goals, providing technical expertise and infrastructure support for testing their innovative solutions in a real marine environment. Case in point, Bennu is planning to test its methane removal technology on Lomar’s vessels starting in 2024. These tests aim to quantify the efficacy, efficiency, and safety of the UV light system in real marine environments. The outcomes will provide valuable data on operational performance and potential adjustments needed for various applications.

Image Source : www.bennuclimate.com  

       Lomar’s collaboration with Bennu highlights a growing recognition in the shipping industry of methane’s overlooked role in climate change, providing a tangible method for addressing both existing emissions and those that are harder to capture at the source. The potential environmental impact of this technology is exciting as removing methane from the atmosphere could slow the rate of global warming within our lifetime. 

However, there are still challenges ahead, including the need for large-scale deployment and continuous testing to ensure the technology’s long-term effectiveness and safety. Bennu’s current efforts aim to address these questions by evaluating the technology’s performance and assessing its feasibility in real-world marine settings. A research paper detailing the findings is currently under preparation.

References

Technology | Bennu. (n.d.). Bennu Climate. https://www.bennuclimate.com/technology 

Lomarlabs. (2024, September 25). Cutting edge methane removal technology tested on Lomar vessel in Baltimore. Retrieved from https://lomarlabs.com/news/cutting-edge-methane-removal-technology-tested-on-lomar-vessel-in-baltimore/ 

LOMAR ANNOUNCES LAUNCH OF LOMARLABS. (n.d.). Lomar Shipping. https://www.lomarshipping.com/news/lomar-announces-launch-of-lomarlabs/

Lomarlabs. (2024, July 16). Homepage – Lomar Labs. Lomar Labs. https://lomarlabs.com/ 

Casey, J. (2024, August 30). VTT study highlights methane reduction in real-world ship operation. LNG Industry. https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/30082024/vtt-study-highlights-methane-reduction-in-real-world-ship-operation/

Cathro, E. (2024, September 20). Shipping Industry Outlines Protocol for Methane Reduction. MAMII. https://mamii.org/shipping-industry-outlines-protocol-to-incentivise-methane-reduction/ 

Krogsbøll, M., Russell, H. S., & Johnson, M. S. (2023). A high efficiency gas phase photoreactor for eradication of methane from low-concentration sources. Environmental Research Letters, 19(1), 014017. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ad0e33