カタールから欧州へ：船上メタン分解によるLNG運搬船の脱炭素化

Unofficial AI-generated summary based on the public title and abstract. Not an official translation.

🔬研究者:LNG船の脱炭素経路としてメタン分解とOCCSを同一モデルで比較した定量ベンチマークを提供する。

🏢実務担当者:LNG燃料船のCII格上げとEU ETS・FuelEU遵守コスト削減の投資判断材料として活用できる。

🏛政策担当者:海運の炭素価格・燃費規制設計において、船上CCS技術の選択肢と貯蔵・港湾インフラ要件を検討する際の参考になる。

Abstract Methane splitting emerged as a promising methane decarbonization technology capable of producing low-carbon hydrogen while avoiding direct carbon dioxide emissions. Through the thermal decomposition of methane into hydrogen and solid carbon (CH4 → C + 2H2), the process enables decarbonization of methane across a range of hard-to-abate sectors while creating opportunities for carbon valorization. One particularly attractive application is the maritime industry where liquefied natural gas (LNG) has become an important transitional fuel but continues to generate greenhouse gas emissions during combustion. Integrated onboard LNG-fueled vessels, methane splitting functions as a pre-combustion carbon capture technology, producing hydrogen on demand for propulsion and auxiliary power without the need for hydrogen storage onboard, while capturing carbon in solid form that can be safely stored in ambient conditions and discharged at port. This study evaluates onboard methane splitting as a decarbonization strategy for large LNG carriers and benchmarks its performance against conventional post-combustion for onboard carbon capture systems (OCCS). A baseline assessment was first established through the evaluation of four post-combustion CO2 capture technologies: chemical absorption, membrane separation, adsorption, and cryogenic separation, using energy integration models representative of LNG-fueled ships. The analysis identified that thermal capture technologies, particularly absorption and adsorption, provide the most favorable performance when sufficient waste heat is available onboard. Building upon this benchmark, a model-based assessment of methane splitting was conducted for a representative steam-driven LNG carrier, considering process integration, energy requirements, onboard storage, and regulatory compliance economic performance. Heat integration between the methane splitting unit and the ship's existing energy system were evaluated to maximize overall process efficiency. For a carbon capture rate of 55%, the vessel's Carbon Intensity Indicator (CII) improved from rating D to A and estimated compliance savings from FuelEU Maritime and EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) exceeded USD 134 million over the assessed period of 10 years (2030-2040), with projected CO2 price. Methane splitting substantially outperformed post-combustion capture in several key metrics, such as reduction of onboard storage requirements, from approximately 12,360 mVreturn trip for liquefied carbon dioxide to only 6,430 m3/return trip for solid carbon, less complex port logistics, and lower energy demand required per ton of CO2 avoided. The results demonstrate that methane splitting represents a technically viable and economically attractive decarbonization pathway for LNG powered vessels. By leveraging existing LNG infrastructure while producing low-carbon hydrogen and a marketable solid carbon co-product, the technology offers a practical pathway for extending the operational relevance of LNG vessels and supporting the maritime sector's transition toward net-zero emissions.

• crossref https://doi.org/10.2118/235548-msfirst seen 2026-11-04 06:02:39 · last seen 2026-11-05 06:35:42