Rotterdam-based sustainability innovator Value Group (Value Maritime and Value Carbon) announces that it has secured Energietransitiefonds Rotterdam (‘ETF-R’) as an investor. The fund’s investment will drive the further development of the Value Hub for CO2 offloading and processing in Rotterdam.
The technology captures CO2, stores it, and allows it to be effectively reused or stored elsewhere. In the Port of Rotterdam, the maritime industry benefits from emissions reduction enabled by the technology.
Carbon care
Value Maritime, part of the Value Group, is the innovative developer and installer of one of the first commercially viable hybrid CO2 capture and exhaust gas cleaning systems, known as Filtree. This system not only captures and stores CO2 but also cleans sulphur, ultra-fine particulate matter, and CO2 from ships’ exhaust emissions as well as oil residue and particulate matter from the vessels’ washing water. As a result, the Filtree System supports compliance with current and future environmental regulations.
The key to the Filtree System is its integrated carbon capture feature which allows ships to store the CO2 they collect onboard in dedicated fixed tanks or non-fixed battery containers. These onboard storage facilities can then be sustainably offloaded in port for reuse or further storage, managed by Value Maritime’s sister company, Value Carbon.
Value Group Co-Founder and Director Maarten Lodewijks says, “With InnovationQuarter as a new shareholder, Value Group gains a strong strategic partner to accelerate the development of our Value Hub in Rotterdam for CO2 offloading and processing. This partnership not only strengthens the realization of this Value Hub as a blueprint for future Value Hubs but also drives the ongoing expansion and innovation of our patented Carbon Capture technology.”
Accelerating CO2 handling
With ETF-R’s €2 million investment and further active support from InnovationQuarter, Value Group aims to accelerate the development of its Value Hub in Rotterdam. The Value Hub will manage the CO2 offloading from ships and ensure efficient, sustainable processing.
Meanwhile, a pilot program in Westland greenhouses demonstrates the technology's practical application. Captured CO2 is released during the day to enhance photosynthesis and plant growth, showcasing a sustainable solution for agriculture.
InnovationQuarter/ETF-R Senior Investment Manager Reinaud Struycken says, “We are very happy to be able to invest in a sustainable company that supports the reduction of CO2 emissions in Rotterdam and beyond. Their innovative 'catch & release' technology perfectly aligns with our vision for a cleaner and more sustainable Rotterdam. They serve as a prime example of how carbon capture and storage technology can benefit this and other sectors. ETF-R is looking forward to helping Value Group grow.”
