Lomar developing methane-reducing tech with Silicon Valley firm

Lomar’s new subsidiary lomarlabs has partnered up with Silicon Valley tech start-up Blue Dot Change for the development, design, and test of the start-up’s compact nature-based catalyst dispenser set to accelerate the reduction of methane in the air.

Blue Dot Change’s simple, cost-efficient dispenser aims to accelerate the pace of nature’s existing methane removal process from the air by releasing iron-rich particles that contain chloride into the air, which is then converted into vapour. Sunlight then irradiates these particles, producing chlorine radicals. These, in turn, can drive reactions that convert methane into two water and one carbon dioxide molecule in the atmosphere.

Ships are a solid testing ground for this unproven and potentially transformational technology, as they already operate in an ideal environment for breaking down methane. The catalyst is independent of the ship’s emissions and will only be used when the meteorological conditions are optimal for it to work efficiently.

Blue Dot Change’s tech aims to alleviate the shipping industry’s methane footprint as there are no geological barriers to the wind blowing in an oceanic environment. With ample access to wind, the catalyst permeating the atmosphere will increase the ability to naturally speed up the methane removal process.

If enough commercial ships were to adopt this technology the tech innovator hopes to cut rising temperatures by a third through methane removal from oceanic air.

lomarlabs and Blue Dot Change will be orchestrating additional pilots to responsibly test the mechanical deployment of their dissipation system, as well as a weather station aboard one of Lomar’s vessels to collect useful data to enrich the model. Preparations to install and deploy the first fully operational system on a Lomar vessel will take place sometime in late 2024 or early 2025.

“Together, we look forward to making a substantial impact on shipping’s net zero objectives while also providing a significant contribution to global climate repair,” Blue Dot Change co-founder and CEO David Henkel-Wallace said.