Cutting edge methane removal technology tested on Lomar vessel in Baltimore
NEWS 16/09/24

Cutting edge methane removal technology tested on Lomar vessel in Baltimore

In a significant stride toward combating climate change, Bennu, a pioneering environmental technology company (formerly named Blue Dot Change) recently conducted cutting-edge tests on methane removal technology at the Port of Baltimore. Co-founder and CEO David Henkel Wallace is at the forefront of this initiative, demonstrating the potential of Bennu’s groundbreaking approach to mitigating one of the most potent greenhouse gases.

“Methane, also known as natural gas, is over 30 times more harmful to the atmosphere than CO2,” Wallace explained. “While methane is naturally produced and forms a blanket around our planet that has kept us warm for thousands of years, human activity has drastically increased methane levels, effectively tripling the ‘blanket’ and exacerbating global warming.”

The company’s current project involved a Lomar vessel in the Port of Baltimore, where Bennu tested a new technology that could revolutionise methane reduction efforts. Unlike conventional methods that attempt to capture methane, Bennu’s approach focuses on destroying methane molecules directly in the atmosphere, using a process inspired by natural phenomena in the stratosphere.

David Henkel Wallace, Co-founder & CEO of Bennu

Human activity has drastically increased methane levels, exacerbating global warming.

Wallace detailed how ultraviolet (UV) light in the stratosphere plays a crucial role in breaking down methane. Bennu’s innovation lies in replicating this process closer to the Earth’s surface, where most methane is concentrated. “We permanently destroy the methane right there in the atmosphere. This is not just about blocking emissions—it’s about removing the gas entirely,” Wallace emphasised.

The technology was tested in a real marine environment, thanks to a collaboration with lomarlabs.

Stylianos Papageorgiou, Managing Director of lomarlabs: “This collaboration aims at providing Bennu with technical expertise but also support them in aligning their technology with the shipping industry’s broader goals of decarbonisation. Shipping, responsible for about 3% of global carbon emissions, represents a key sector where Bennu’s technology could have a substantial impact.

Stylianos Papageorgiou, Managing Director of lomarlabs

This collaboration aims at providing Bennu with technical expertise but also support them in aligning their technology with the shipping industry's broader goals of decarbonisation.

Bennu’s ambitious timeline aims for full-scale production by summer 2025, with the goal of removing over 100 megatons of methane annually by 2028. This effort is expected to address half of the excess methane in the atmosphere, potentially giving humanity crucial time to develop further solutions for CO2 reduction.

As Bennu continues its tests, the success of this technology could mark a pivotal moment in the global fight against climate change, offering a practical and scalable solution to one of the planet’s most pressing environmental challenges.

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