Pacific Green Technologies Group
Combating Marine Pollution with TurboHead™ Technology

The marine industry is bracing itself for a tectonic shift. 1 January 2020 onwards, new regulations passed by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) will come into effect, reducing the permissible sulfur content of marine fuel from 3.5 percent to 0.5 percent. Intended to reduce the maritime industry’s significant contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, the new laws will affect all ship owners burning high-sulfur fuel oil (HSFO). That means almost everyone. Owners wishing to comply with ‘IMO 2020’ have two real choices: install an exhaust gas cleaning system (EGCS), also called a ‘scrubber,’ or switch to more expensive very low-sulfur fuel oil (VLSFO). Executive Director of Pacific Green Technologies Group, Scott Poulter, sees the price differential between VLSFO and HSFO as critical. “Low sulfur fuel is not cost-effective,’ he says. ‘It is more economical to decrease sulfur emissions through the use of scrubbers.”

Pacific Green Technologies (PGT) are industry leaders in exhaust gas cleaning, which brings to the table a scrubber that helps organizations lower sulfur emission. Their EGCS-- ENVI-Marine™ system--incorporates the company’s patented TurboHead™ technology, offering ship owners a clean and cost-effective way of meeting the IMO’s new Sulfur Oxide (SOx) standards. The unique frothing scrubber head ensures optimal molecular contact between harmful exhaust gases and neutralizing agents like seawater, limestone, or sodium hydroxide. Consequent gains in efficiency mean ENVI-Marine™ units can be smaller than most scrubbers, reducing capital and operational costs. PGT’s EGCS devices are also optimized for space. A rectangular scrubber utilizes standard vessel design better than the more commonly-seen cylinder shape.

With our patented technology and production capacity, we are uniquely positioned to satisfy the growing need for marine scrubbers

Prior to installing such robust systems, PGT conducts a series of workshop and understands clients’ unique requirements. As no two ship owners have the same requirements, PGT develops bespoke scrubbing solutions. “Unlike our competitors that adopt a one-size-fits-all approach,” says Poulter, “Every system that we build is custom designed.” Depending on the shape, size, and the type of gas flow of heavy fuel oil vessels, the organization’s teams design and tailor scrubbers to optimize the elimination of sulfur.

PGT’s market reach and engineering capacity have been elevated through a joint venture with China’s state-owned enterprise, PowerChina. The relationship ensures that PGT can scale up production to meet increasing scrubber orders ahead of IMO 2020. “Demand for EGC systems may increase four-fold in the next 36 months,” Poulter says. ”With our patented technology and production capacity, we are uniquely positioned to satisfy the growing need for marine scrubbers.”

Poulter anticipates that the significant cost advantages of EGC systems over VLSFO are set to redefine the marine space. In addition to retrofits, PGT is exploring opportunities to collaborate with shipyards and install scrubbers on newly build ships. The firm also plans to expand its offering of emission control devices that serve power plants.