A Joint Industry Project (JIP) agreement was signed between HD Korea Shipbuilding and Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE), HD Hydrogen, and DNV to improve carbon capture in Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFC) by developing and validating Pressure Swing Adsorption (PSA) technology.

SOFCs are high-efficiency fuel cells that use ammonia, hydrogen, or natural gas for fuel to generate electricity. Integrating PSA-based carbon capture technology into SOFCs for generating power on board ships will be explored by both HD KSOE and HD Hydrogen. They aim to reduce maritime carbon emissions by replacing normal ship propulsion and power generation engines with SOFC systems.

PSA technology is expected to be 40% more energy efficient than current CO2 absorption technologies within marine applications, by capturing and releasing CO2 when cyclically altering pressure in a carbon chamber.

Seunghwan Oh, Vice President of Business Development and Strategy at HD Hydrogen, commented, "PSA technology is a key enabler in the era of Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS). Integrating this technology with SOFCs, one of the most efficient power generation systems available, can substantially contribute to maritime decarbonization."

Vidar Dolonen, Regional Manager for DNV Korea & Japan, mentioned, "The decarbonization of shipping is a complex challenge, requiring a mix of solutions to bridge the transition to carbon-neutral fuels. Energy efficiency measures and onboard carbon capture technologies can play a crucial role in reducing emissions while the industry works towards securing reliable supplies of alternative fuels. This collaboration represents an important step in exploring practical and scalable carbon reduction strategies for the maritime sector."