UKCCSRC Knowledge Exchange Conference 2025 – Parallel session 2c – CO₂ Transportation (ECR Meeting Fund)

Saleh Alfaleh (University of Edinburgh) shares their takeaways from “Parallel session 2c – CO₂ Transportation” at the UKCCSRC Knowledge Exchange Conference 2025

Joseph Hammond (University of Sheffield)

Joseph Hammond, University of Sheffield, presented his research on the spatial design of CCUS infrastructure networks. His work seeks to create methods that allow for quick yet accurate design of infrastructure that balances technical feasibility with broader stakeholder needs. Hammond’s approach focuses on three main components: mapping routes across complex geographical surfaces, detailing the engineering specifications of pipelines such as size, material and wall thickness, and simulating the decisions made by different groups, from industry and network planners to policymakers and the public.

He emphasised four key outcomes from this research. First, the move from planning individual corridors to designing entire networks, enabling a more realistic representation of infrastructure development. Second, an interactive design process that keeps the planner in the loop, allowing technical details to be adjusted and refined in real time. Third, a strong focus on future proofing, with the ability to simulate different scenarios and build flexibility into pipeline capacity. Finally, his approach highlights the importance of balancing technical, environmental, and social factors so that trade-offs between different priorities can be fully understood.

Shadab Alam (Teesside University)

While Hammond’s work focused on land-based infrastructure, Shadab Alam, from Teesside University, turned attention to the maritime sector with his project on decarbonising UK shipping. His research explores onboard methanol reforming with CO₂ capture and utilisation, offering an alternative pathway to reduce emissions from a sector that has traditionally relied on heavy fuel oil and marine gas oil. Alam described a concept in which e-methanol is produced at ports through the hydrogenation of captured CO₂ using green hydrogen. This fuel is then supplied to ships, where it replaces conventional fuels for propulsion. Onboard, the e-methanol is reformed, and the resulting CO₂ is captured and stored in dual-purpose ISO tanks that can carry both e-methanol and liquefied CO₂.

Case studies on two routes, Esbjerg–Immingham and Larne–Liverpool, demonstrated the potential of this system. Results indicated that the approach could achieve a net electrical efficiency of 28.4 per cent (22.2 per cent overall from green hydrogen to propulsion), though significant onboard CO₂ storage capacity would be required. Alam also described the design of a methanol–CO₂ heat exchanger, which enables efficient CO₂ liquefaction and heat recovery. Ongoing pre-commercial trials are testing the concept further, with future research focusing on dynamic voyage modelling and detailed techno-economic analysis to assess how the system could scale up.

Dimitrios Sykas (University of Strathclyde)

A different aspect of maritime decarbonisation was explored by Dimitrios Sykas, from the University of Strathclyde, who presented both his involvement in the Green Marine Project and his PhD research. He began by outlining the advantages and disadvantages of pre-combustion, post-combustion and oxy-fuel CO₂ capture technologies, noting that post-combustion capture has the advantage of being compatible with current marine engines without major modifications. The Green Marine Project is investigating the potential of carbon capture through membrane separation and has already completed lab-scale testing. Land-based integrated testing is expected to follow in the coming months. However, Sykas also highlighted challenges, including limited stakeholder experience with maritime practices, the complexity of regulatory compliance, and the logistical difficulties of installing and removing equipment while keeping vessels in operation.

Alongside this project, Sykas is conducting doctoral research on cryogenic distillation as a method for onboard CO₂capture. His work involves modelling systems for different vessel types, such as crude oil carriers, bulk carriers, Ro-Pax ships and LNG/LPG carriers. Cryogenic distillation could offer several advantages over other capture methods, including the ability to store CO₂ in solid form, reduced energy demand, and simpler equipment without the need for chemical reagents. Sykas has been modelling the thermophysical behaviour of CO₂–N₂–O₂ mixtures and simulating the de-sublimation of CO₂ from flue gases to understand how this approach could be applied in practice. He concluded that onboard CO₂ capture is a vital tool for reducing maritime greenhouse gas emissions, and that progress in land-based capture technologies can provide important lessons for the maritime sector.