Wärtsilä Unveils Innovative Carbon Capture Technology Following Groundbreaking Full-Scale Deployment

Image Credits: Wärtsilä

Wärtsilä, a leading tech group, has just rolled out its innovative carbon capture solution (CCS) for the maritime sector, marking a important leap forward in the quest for greener shipping practices.

Recent tests by Wärtsilä reveal that their CCS can slash CO2 emissions from vessels by as much as 70%. This offers ship owners an effective way to comply wiht tightening environmental regulations without delay.

By capturing CO2 directly from exhaust systems, this technology plays a crucial role in helping the industry meet the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) ambitious goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.Håkan Agnevall, President and CEO of Wärtsilä, shared his enthusiasm: “This CCS technology is revolutionary for maritime operations. We’re witnessing tremendous interest already. As we approach net-zero targets in shipping, this solution enhances our ongoing efforts to cut vessel emissions and avoid stranded assets.”

The launch follows the prosperous deployment of this full-scale CCS on Solvang ASA’s Clipper Eris—the first of its kind globally—where it effectively captures emissions from all exhaust sources. Earlier this year, Wärtsilä also installed its CCS on a 21,000 m³ ethylene carrier for comprehensive testing and fine-tuning.

since setting sail from Singapore in February 2025, Clipper Eris has been pivotal in supporting Solvang ASA’s mission to lower carbon footprints while promoting sustainable practices at sea.Equipped with various Wärtsilä technologies like exhaust scrubbers beforehand made Clipper Eris an ideal candidate for implementing CCS. For new ships currently being built, Solvang is collaborating closely with Wärtsilä and other partners to ensure these vessels are ready for carbon capture integration.

This includes preparing scrubber systems compatible with heavy fuel oil (HFO) engines while reserving necessary space and utilities onboard.

Edvin Endresen, CEO of Solvang ASA remarked: “as we navigate ways to reduce our environmental footprint within shipping logistics, CCS offers us a direct path toward sustainability. Our commitment to embracing cutting-edge technologies like CCS reflects our proactive stance within deep-sea operations. Partnering with an established name like Wärtsilä was essential; we’re thrilled about what their expertise will bring us.”

Wärtsilä has been refining this technology since 2019 at its research center in moss, Norway—currently capturing around 10 tonnes of CO2 daily from marine engines during trials.

with full-scale installations now operational on Clipper Eris demonstrating up to a 70% reduction in CO2 output per vessel tripled down on their estimates that costs could range between €50-€70 ($54-$76) per metric ton captured when factoring both capital investments and operational expenses.

Agnevall emphasized collaboration’s importance: “Working together has been vital.to make strides against maritime emissions effectively requires partnerships with organizations like Solvang ASA who share our vision.”

Wärtsilä provides various scalable configurations tailored for different types of vessels—whether new builds or retrofits—and can be applied across multiple fuel types including HFOs or LNGs while complementing existing emission-reduction technologies such as SOx scrubbers or NOx reduction systems.

With extensive experience tackling pollutants right at the source through SOx scrubbing solutions over many years positions them uniquely within maritime decarbonization efforts—unlocking further benefits not only for ship owners but also operators looking towards sustainable futures.