ABB introduces CO2e Calculator for enhanced transparency on emissions in vessel operations

• The CO2e Calculator allows shipowners to estimate the reductions in carbon dioxide-equivalent emissions enabled by ABB solutions
• The tool shows how solutions including Azipod® propulsion and Onboard DC Grid™ help to reduce emissions in scenarios entered by the user
• Providing transparency into the effectiveness of its solutions is part of ABB’s broader commitment to driving maritime decarbonization

05 December 2023 – ABB has launched a new digital tool allowing shipowners, operators and designers to estimate the emission-reduction impact of various ABB technologies used on board ships when compared to alternative solutions and in scenarios specified by the user.

The CO₂e (carbon dioxide-equivalent) Calculator is applicable to five ABB solutions for the maritime industry – Azipod® electric propulsion, energy storage, Onboard DC Grid™ power system platform, shaft generator, and shore connection – highlighting their potential to support the shipping industry’s decarbonization objectives in line with targets set out by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

For Azipod® propulsion, the CO₂e Calculator demonstrates the estimated reductions in CO2e emissions that result from powering a vessel with Azipod® propulsors rather than with a traditional shaftline system. It covers typical scenarios for cruise ships, yachts, ferries, offshore support vessels, and potentially other vessel types with similar operational profiles.

When applied to ABB’s energy storage system, the tool shows the emissions reductions a vessel can achieve using batteries charged from the shoreside grid in place of a conventional co
mbustion engine running on fossil fuels.

For Onboard DC Grid™, it shows the estimated emission-reduction benefit of the solution’s variable-speed function for internal combustion engines compared to a fixed-speed function.

For an ABB shaft generator, the CO₂e Calculator estimates how much a shaft generator installed on the main engine shaft can reduce emissions when compared to auxiliary engines driven by the auxiliary generator.

Finally, for ABB shore connection, the tool calculates the estimated reduction in emissions that can be achieved by drawing from the shoreside utility grid instead of generating electric power using onboard generators.

“ABB has a long history of developing energy-efficient solutions for the maritime industry, and now we can demonstrate the tangible emission-reduction impact of those products to our customers,” said Tommi Lempiäinen, Head of Strategy and Sustainability, ABB Marine & Ports. “With this level of transparency, shipowners are empowered to make informed decisions on which solutions to invest in – calculated for the specific scenario in question. This is a small but nonetheless significant step within the framework of our broader commitment to driving maritime decarbonization in accordance with the IMO’s net-zero ambitions.”

 

ABB’s Process Automation business automates, electrifies and digitalizes industrial operations that address a wide range of essential needs – from supplying energy, water and materials, to producing goods and transporting them to market. With its ~20,000 employees, leading technology and service expertise, ABB Process Automation helps customers in process, hybrid and maritime industries improve performance and safety of operations, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. go.abb/processautomation

ABB is a technology leader in electrification and automation, enabling a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. The company’s solutions connect engineering know-how and software to optimize how things are manufactured, moved, powered and operated. Building on more than 140 years of excellence, ABB’s ~105,000 employees are committed to driving innovations that accelerate industrial transformation. www.abb.com