Northern Lights Evaluates Hydraulic vs Electric Loading Arms for CO2 Terminals

Northern Lights is assessing the use of electric loading arms for CO2 terminals, focusing on design, reliability, and lifecycle costs compared to hydraulic systems. The evaluation process involved extensive testing and digital monitoring, indicating that electric arms could offer lower maintenance and operational costs over time. The project's findings suggest that as CO2 shipping advances, the choice between hydraulic and electric systems will be influenced by environmental risks and efficiency.

Published Mar 26, 2026

Northern Lights is comparing hydraulic and electric loading arms for CO2 terminals, emphasizing the need for a dedicated design due to CO2's unique properties. The project team, including Technip Energies, followed DNV-RP-A203 for qualification, conducting extensive testing and integrating a digital monitoring platform that tracked over 2,000 parameters per millisecond.

AI-curated by Theia

Electric arms reduce maintenance and operational costs, proving advantageous in total cost of ownership after several years. Challenges include aligning with existing hydraulic standards. The potential for electric arms extends to new terminals and retrofits, promising higher automation and simplified layouts.