China has set the goal of striving to peak CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060, which is also the country’s solemn commitment to the international community. As shipping transports around 90% of global trade, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) has introduced new carbon intensity measures which enter into force in 2022, with a stimulus to reduce carbon intensity of all ships by 40% by 2030 compared to 2008 baseline. China’s shipping industry emits 120 million tons of CO2 annually, which is the most in the world and accounts for 15% of all emissions. Reducing the carbon emissions of the Chinese and worldwide shipping industries is thus a significant challenge.

A recent project that was jointly applied by Guangdong Technion – Israel Institute of Technology (GTIIT), CIMC Offshore Engineering Co. Ltd, and Nanhai West Oil Oilfield Service (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd as the Shenzhen Municipal Technology Breakthrough Project will satisfy the demand. It was successfully approved for a duration of 3 years with a funding of 10 million RMB.

The signing and opening ceremony of the project was held in Shenzhen on March 23. Presided by General Manager Chen Yunshui (CIMC Offshore); GTIIT Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof. Moris Eisen, Associate Professor He Xuezhong (CE), GTEC Director Michael Lv; and General Manager Xu Haidong (Nanhai West Oil Oilfield Service) attended the event. After full exchange and consultation, all sides reached a consensus on the R&D content of carbon capture storage on ships.

The “Marine Membrane Carbon Capture Devices and Membrane Technology Research and Development” project is up-to-date to meet the developing CCUS (carbon capture, utilization and storage) technology. It takes the favorable opportunity of the adjustment of international marine engineering equipment market to gain the upper hand in technology – the main research focus on the process of membrane carbon capture, membrane module and devices to provide more options to reduce carbon emissions.

The world famous CIMC Offshore is an integrated service provider in the field of marine equipment and has 5 Offshore and Marine Engineering centers located in Yantai, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Norway and Sweden, 3 construction bases and over 5,000 employees. The company has delivered nearly a hundred types of offshore engineering equipment, serving main offshore oil and gas production areas in the world, including the North Sea in Norway, South China Sea, Mexico Gulf and Brazil. Part of its products account for 25% of market share around the world.