- The LR, Knutsen, HDKSOE, and HHI Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study has evaluated the environmental output at each stage of a of a newbuild LNG carrier vessel’s life.
- The study measures the carbon emissions generated throughout the entire life cycle of a 174,000 m3 newbuild LNG Carrier.
- According to the study, of the overall operations figure, 79% of GHG emissions are generated through ship operations, with 21% attributed to mining and fuel transport.
The LR, Knutsen, HDKSOE, and HHI Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study has evaluated the environmental output at each stage of a of a newbuild LNG carrier vessel’s life, reports Safety4sea.
The six-month study, which began in June 2023, measures the carbon emissions generated throughout the entire life cycle of a 174,000 m3 newbuild LNG Carrier, from cradle (raw material extraction) to gate (shipbuilding), gate to end-of-life (operation), and end-of-life and to grave (demolition, recycling, and waste disposal).
Environmental output
According to the study, of the overall operations figure, 79% of GHG emissions are generated through ship operations (tank-to-wake), with 21% attributed to mining and transport (well-to-tank) of the fuels, highlighting the significant positive impact of low- or zero-carbon fuels on emissions reduction.
The study takes into account all emissions (scope 1, 2 and 3) associated with the vessel throughout its life cycle
- Scope 1 emissions are the direct emissions created during shipbuilding and operation.
- Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions related to energy, water and steam, for example powering the yard during the build.
- Scope 3 emissions encompass indirect emissions created both upstream (supply chain) and downstream (distribution chain), for example, emissions created during production, transport and storage of materials and equipment, and during the vessel recycling process.
By incorporating all three scopes a complete emissions profile over a vessel’s life cycle can be obtained.
“The methodology created and tested as part of the study will provide a baseline for all life stages of a new construction vessel and serve as a benchmark for comparing the life cycle emissions of other LNG carriers,” said LR Chief Commercial Officer Andy McKeran.
Majority of emissions are created during the operational period
Furthermore, results reveal that the majority of emissions are created during the operational period of a vessel’s life cycle, but that these can be reduced by approximately 90% through the use of zero- or low-carbon fuels.
Green steel hold significant promise
The study also reveals that GHG emissions during the shipbuilding stage (gate) can be significantly reduced if green steel – steel with low or zero GHG emissions embodied at the manufacturing stage – is introduced into the process. The use of renewable energy could also lead to a GHG emissions reduction of around 60% at the yard level.
Knutsen Director of Newbuilding and Innovation, Jarle Østenstad, highlighted that in preparation for the forthcoming EU Corporate Social Responsibility Directive (CSRD), and other similar regulations across the globe, ship owners will be required to produce sustainability reports disclosing their Scope 3 emissions and outline strategies for mitigation. This LCA analysis brings owners one step closer to meeting these requirements, he noted.
“Expanding on this LCA expertise, we will expand the Life Cycle Assessment to cover all our key flagship products, enabling us to more transparently communicate the environmental impacts of our products with the stakeholders,” added HDKSOE and HHI Senior Managing Director, Yong-Hwa Yeo.
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Source: Safety4sea
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