Memorandum submitted by Cascade Technologies
Ltd
"TO MEASURE
IS TO
KNOW"
— Technology and products are now available
for the real time measurement of Green House Gases (GHG) from
ship stacks.
— Emissions data can be stamped with
GPS position and time and viewed on the WWW.
— Real time data can be used to demonstrate
current GHG emissions and therefore be used to show real improvements
over time.
— The technology and products are available
now and could be rolled out rapidly in volume if required.
— There is the possibility to save
fuel (2 to 4%) from implementing real time emissions monitoring
and providing this feed back to the engine management system or
by manually managing the engines operating parameters. This is
in preference to slowing the ships speed.
— The successful implementation of
additional exhaust cleaning devices (scrubbers) to reduce emissions,can
be monitored by this technology, thus proving its efficiency—99%
reduction of SOx has been shown as well as similar reductions
of NOx.
— Ambient air monitoring around ports
or coastal areas could by implemented to correlate the effect
of ships exhausts on the mainland.
1. Green house gases including CO2, NOx
and SOx are emitted from many energy generating processes including
ships engines.
2. The ability to measure these gases rather
than using theoretical calculations is important if reductions
in emissions are to be demonstrated.
3. Current regulations do not allow engine
adjustments to take place unless continuous emissions monitoring
equipment is deployed.
4. Real time management/adjustment of engine
operating parameters could be utilised to improve fuel efficiency
which directly relates to GHG emissions. Many engines have electronic
control that could be used with real time emissions data to improve
combustion efficiency and therefore emissions.
5. There are significant technical challenges
to providing data on emissions from ships funnels. These relate
to size and weight of conventional equipment. Ensuring measurements
are representative. Heat, vibration and dirty gases.
6. A new laser based technology specifically
directed at the rapid and sensitive measurement of gases using
a new type of laser has been developed by Cascade Technologies
Ltd. A company which spun out of Strathclyde University, in Glasgow,
in 2003.
7. This technology can be deployed in many
fields for the measurement of green house gases GHG, including
power stations and shipping.
8. The technology has been developed to
the point of achieving type approval for the fitment to ships
for the measurement of key GHG such as CO2, NOx and SOx. The products
that have been developed are designed to be easily upgradeable
to future proof them, as additional gases are identified.
9. Cascade is one of the few companies in
the world that has developed a measurement method for the real
time analysis of GHG from ships. This is a significant challenge
for most gas measurement technologies.
10. This capability is now a reliable method
for measurement of ships emissions and could be deployed on a
pilot basis on ships immediately. Volume could be installed within
a six month timeframe. (The sensors are easy to install and require
limited modifications to ship infrastructure prior to installation).
11. Ships can save fuel or reduce emissions
by knowing their emissions and managing fuel consumption and speed
to optimise GHG output. Slowing ships down is one option to save
fuel but by measuring emissions, speeds could be maintained and
fuel savings of 2 to 4% could be made, although sometimes the
NOx output can increase.
12. A proposal to fit emissions monitoring
equipment to all ships in certain areas could be implemented and
then all ships in these waters could have the emissions data annotated
with date and ship position. This data could be available for
viewing on the WWW, similar to the National Air Quality Archive
run by Defra.
13. The capability is now available for
government to insist on shipping companies to install emissions
monitoring equipment, thus giving the ability to understand the
location of ships with their related emissions and relate this
to land based air quality or the general reduction in GHG emissions
from the shipping industry.
14. This ability to measure could then be
utilised to understand the current position and to demonstrate
future improvements.
15. Answering a few of the specific questions
from the EAC New Enquiry document dated 17 July 2008:
— How should UK share of maritime
emissions be measured and how fast could this be done?
— Cascade has developed the technology
and been trialling it on the P&O cross channel ferry Pride
of Kent. It is now proven and available for roll out into the
industry—volume capacity for production will be available
when required on a short lead time.
— What are the prospects for new
engine technology and more fuel efficient operations and what
could government do to assist?
— Engine technology—The engine
manufacturers continue to improve the engines and real time measurement
technology can help in the field.
— In addition to engine technology,
reduced emissions can come from using different, but expensive,
fuels or by scrubbing (cleaning) the exhausts post burn. If this
is done then the ship owner will want to measure the emissions
to confirm efficiency of the scrubber.
— By measuring in real time it is possible
to see the effect on fuel consumption from winds and tides etc.
This has not been possible with traditional technologies which
typically have five to 15 minute response times. Our new technology
can respond in sub second if necessary.
— The government could fund pilot installations
and then support the implementation of real time monitoring by
offering some form of incentive for ships that have the monitoring
installed and can therefore demonstrate their emissions.
— What are the effects of shipping
on air quality and public health what more could government do?
— Ambient air monitoring is carried
out in many areas of the UK, mainly in city centres and large
conurbations. This monitoring could be extended to ports and then
correlated to ships emissions. In addition, ships could be pushed
towards using distillate (lower emission) fuels.
11 November 2008
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