Energy giants Shell, Equinor, and TotalEnergies have announced the completion of their carbon dioxide (CO2) storage project on Norway’s west coast, a key part of Norway’s Longship project.
The facility, located at the Northern Lights site, is set to begin receiving CO2 in 2025. This marks a significant step forward in the global push to reduce emissions through carbon capture and storage (CCS).
Tim Heijn, managing director of the joint venture, described the project’s completion as a crucial milestone in demonstrating CCS as a viable strategy for combating climate change. The first deliveries of CO2 will come from a capture facility at the Brevik cement plant, owned by Heidelberg Materials, and is expected to commence operations after testing in 2025.
The site features 12 large tanks capable of temporarily storing 7,500 cubic meters of liquefied CO2, which will then be transported through a 110-kilometer pipeline for permanent storage in rock formations 2,600 meters below sea level. The initial phase aims to store 1.5 million metric tons of CO2 annually, with plans to expand capacity by an additional 3.5 million tons per year.
Northern Lights has also signed agreements to handle CO2 for companies such as Yara and Denmark’s Orsted, with operations expected to begin in 2025 and 2026. However, a CO2 capture project at an Oslo waste plant remains on hold due to budget constraints.
This project is part of Norway’s Longship initiative, which aims to lead the way in commercial CCS efforts to achieve global climate goals.
The total investments in Longship are estimated at NOK 17.1 billion. This includes both Norcem, Fortum Oslo Varme as well as  Northern Lights. The operating costs for ten years of operation are estimated at NOK 8 billion. The total cost estimate is thus NOK 25.1 billion. Longship will receive state aid in accordance with negotiated agreements. The state’s part of these costs are estimated at NOK 16.8 billion.