Maritime emissions refined - New business models for shipping

The MERI-NEWS project promotes more sustainable maritime transport by utilizing recycled raw materials and innovative processes that convert ship emissions and waste into valuable products such as fertilizers, fuels, and graphite. The project focuses on technologies and business models whose potential has not been previously assessed. One novel concept involves capturing nitrogen oxides and converting them into urea using new catalysts and reactor technologies, enabling its use as a nitrogen fertilizer. Another technical approach evaluates the utilization of ship waste in biogas production, particularly in the direct synthesis of methanol from the carbon dioxide contained in biogas. The methane in biogas is broken down into hydrogen and carbon: hydrogen is used for methanol synthesis and urea production, while carbon serves as a raw material for graphite. Although direct methanol synthesis from carbon dioxide and hydrogen has been previously studied at VTT, the current goal is to develop a dynamic, ship-scale manufacturing method. Urea fertilizers, whose ammonia volatilization is reduced by inhibitors that slow urea conversion, have proven to be effective nitrogen sources for plants. The use of urea is highly dependent on environmental conditions, and its suitability for northern conditions needs research. The project aims to generate new, internationally competitive knowledge on the effectiveness of urea fertilization in northern climates. The potential of the method to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (N₂O) from nitrogen fertilization and to promote self-sufficiency in nitrogen fertilizers in Finland and Europe will be examined. MERI-NEWS supports companies' RDI activities by providing new knowledge that can be utilized in product development, cultivation strategies, and commercialization of new solutions. The project bridges basic research and industrial application. The results broadly support the renewal of Finnish primary production and fertilizer industry.