Technology group Wärtsilä announced that its carbon capture solution (CCS) is now commercially available to the global maritime industry. According to Wärtsilä’s tests, the new ‘Wärtsilä Carbon capture solution’ is proven to reduce vessel CO₂ emissions by up to 70%, providing ship owners with an immediate solution to meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations.

The ability to capture CO₂ from ship exhaust systems will have a major impact on the industry’s efforts to reduce GHG emissions, taking into account the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) 2050 reduction target.

The launch follows the successful installation of the world’s first comprehensive, full-scale solution onboard Solvang ASA’s Clipper Eris, where the technology captures emissions from all exhaust gas sources. Earlier this year, Wärtsilä installed its CCS technology onboard the 21,000 m³ ethylene carrier for full scale testing and optimisation. The solution, which has been in operation since the Clipper Eris set sail from Singapore in February 2025, will support Solvang ASA’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable maritime operations.

Solvang’s Clipper Eris ship was already equipped with a broad range of Wärtsilä products, including exhaust scrubbers, making it an ideal candidate for the project. Separately, for newbuild vessels currently under construction, Solvang has worked closely with Wärtsilä, and other partners, to ensure these ships are CCS-ready. This includes CCS-ready scrubber systems, as the engines will operate on HFO, as well as necessary space reservation and utility requirements.

Wärtsilä has been actively developing this technology since 2019 and currently operates a research center and test facility in Moss, Norway capturing 10 tonnes of CO₂ per day from a Wärtsilä marine engine. These tests, which are now supported by the full scale-installation onboard Clipper Eris, have shown that the new CCS has the capability to reduce a vessel’s CO₂ emissions by up to 70%. Wärtsilä also estimates its CCS would have a carbon capture cost of Eur50-Eur70/mt CO₂ ($54-$76/mt CO₂), inclusive of capital and operating costs.

Wärtsilä offers different scalable CCS sizes and configurations to suit various vessel types and operator needs, both on newbuildings and retrofits. Wärtsilä’s CCS can be applied to the exhaust from any carbon-based fuel such as HFO, methanol, LNG and MGO and is designed to work alongside other emission reduction technologies, including SO_x scrubbers, NO_x reduction systems, and particulate matter filters. As part of Wärtsilä's broader portfolio, CCS can be integrated with other decarbonisation technologies and services.