Kosan Crisplant presented its 100 percent emission-free bunkering unit at an exclusive event in the Port of Hou, Denmark, last month. The patented zero-emission bunkering system is designed to ensure that any gas left in the pipes after completion of the bunkering procedure is returned to the tank instead of being released into the atmosphere.
The zero-emission bunkering unit has been in daily operation since March 2015, refuelling the first LNG powered domestic ferry in Denmark. The ferry connects the island of Samsø, renowned for its focus on sustainability, with the Danish mainland. The new ferry, which can also run on biogas, is part of the island’s vision to eliminate the use of fossil fuels by 2030.
Switching to LNG is one of the means ship owners are looking at to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, since LNG is composed primarily of methane, a greenhouse gas roughly 25 times more potent than CO2, it only takes a minor leak during bunkering to take the overall environmental footprint from light to heavy. The Kosan Crisplant LNG refuelling system has been designed to meet the customer’s need for a quick and environmentally friendly bunkering procedure.
The high bunkering speed was one of the decicive factors in Samsø’s choice of plant. The complete bunkering procedure takes 30 minutes, including 15 minutes pumping time, thereby ensuring a high degree of utilization of the ferry.
According to LNG for Baltic Seaports Project, the plant will eventually switch from natural gas to biomethane geerated from the island’s own biomass, helping to fulfil the island’s goal of becoming fossil-fuel-free by 2030. When that time comes, the bunkering unit will be moved from the Jutland side to the port of Sælvig on the Samsø side.
(Source: Kosan Crisplant)
