Rotterdam Fund Invests in Maritime Carbon Capture

A €2.0M (US$2.1M) investment aims to advance carbon capture technology for emissions reduction and sustainable practices in the Port of Rotterdam

The Energy Transition Fund Rotterdam (ETF-R) has committed €2M to drive innovative carbon capture developments in the Port of Rotterdam. The investment focuses on expanding the capabilities of a carbon offloading and processing hub, designed to enhance emissions reduction across the maritime sector.

The project, spearheaded by Rotterdam-based Value Group, incorporates a hybrid CO2 capture and exhaust cleaning system, known as Filtree. This technology captures and stores CO2 while also removing sulphur, particulate matter, and oil residues from ships’ exhaust and washing water.

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Maarten Lodewijks, co-founder and director of Value Group, noted, “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.”

The Value Hub, supported by ETF-R’s funding and InnovationQuarter, is intended as a blueprint for future carbon capture facilities. A parallel pilot programme demonstrates the system’s potential by using captured CO2 in greenhouses to enhance agricultural productivity.

According to Reinaud Struycken, senior investment manager at ETF-R, the technology exemplifies the potential for sustainable solutions across industries. “Their innovative ‘catch & release’ technology perfectly aligns with our vision for a cleaner and more sustainable Rotterdam,” he said.

The development of the Value Hub signals a major step in advancing the CO2 value chain by integrating capture, storage, and reuse within a single operational framework. Unlike other industry efforts, which often focus solely on sequestration or limited recycling capabilities, this approach bridges maritime emissions reduction with land-based applications such as agriculture.

By creating a closed-loop system, the Value Hub contributes to a broader decarbonisation strategy, setting a benchmark for other sectors looking to implement scalable and efficient carbon management solutions.