CE Delft issued a new study, in which it finds that scrubbers have a lower climate impact than low-sulphur fuels. Specifically, the study finds that the CO2-emissions associated using a scrubber vary between 1.5% and 3% for a number of representative ships. In many cases, the emissions caused by the production of low-sulphur fuels for these ships are higher, depending on the quality of the low-sulphur fuel, the refinery and the crude oil slate. This is the main conclusion from the new study, Comparison of CO2 emissions of MARPOL Annex VI compliance options in 2020, issued by CE Delft.
MARPOL sets limits for the sulphur content of fuel oil. As of January 1st, 2020, the sulphur content of fuel oils used outside Emissions Control Areas (ECAs) is 0.50% m/m. Inside ECAs, the limit has been 0.10% m/m since 2015. In practice, there are two options to comply with the MARPOL Annex VI Regulation 14:
- Using a scrubber in combination with fuel oils with a sulphur content that is higher than 0.50% or 0.10%;
- Using fuel oil with a sulphur content of 0.50% Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO), or 0.10% or less Ultra Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (ULSFO), respectively.
Both options, according to the study, result in an increase of well-to-wake CO2 emissions. Specifically, a scrubber requires energy, which is generated by engines running on fuel oil, and thus generates CO2. In addition, there are emissions associated with manufacturing scrubbers and emissions on the seawater.
Also, desulphurization in a refinery requires hydrogen, which is generally produced from methane, emits CO2 in the process, as well as energy.
This report quantifies and compares the CO2 footprint of both options. The use of a scrubber results in an increase of CO2 emissions between 1.5% and 3% for a range of ships.
Desulphurization leads to an improvement of the fuel quality in terms of aromatics content and viscosity.
The increase of emissions associated with desulphurization in a refinery are higher than 1% and in many cases multiple times higher, along with the quality improvement of the fuel, the refinery layout, and the crude used.
“This study provides a comprehensive overview of the climate impacts of different options to reduce sulphur emissions. It shows that in many cases, the carbon footprint of using a scrubber is lower than low-sulphur fuels,” stated Jasper Faber, Director of Aviation and Maritime at CE Delft.
The study used various reference ships and data about the scrubbers received from manufacturers, which they would have installed on the selected reference ships.
These include:
- Cruise ship (100,000 GT);
- Small container ship (4,000 TEU);
- Large container ship (18,000 TEU);
- Bulk carrier (80,000 dwt);
- Oil tanker (200,000 dwt).
As for desulphurizing fuel oil, its CO2 footprint depends on the crude oil used and the layout of the refinery. The study analyzed the CO2 impact of two options: hydro-treatment of residual fuel, and hydro-cracking in combination with hydro-treatment. In these cases, the fuel quality improves.
In addition, many low-sulphur fuels have better qualities as far as viscosity and aromatics content are concerned, than required by the applicable standards.
Finally, the study found that by just removing the sulphur, it generates less CO2 emissions than the use of a scrubber.
But sulphur removal in the refinery along with fuel quality improvement results in more CO2 emissions than using a scrubber, proving the scrubbers have a lower climate impact than low- Sulphur fuels.
The study has been commissioned by three EGCS suppliers, Alfa Laval, Yara Marine, and Wärtsilä. The Study is available HERE https://safety4sea.com/scrubbers-have-a-lower-climate-impact-than-low-sulphur-fuels-study-finds/