Northern Lights: Norway's First Major Carbon Capture and Storage Project

In a significant step towards environmental sustainability, the Northern Lights project has emerged as the first major carbon capture and storage (CCS) initiative in Norway. This groundbreaking project aims to help industrial companies reduce their carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by providing a reliable means of transporting and permanently storing CO2 in deep geological formations located offshore in the North Sea.

Project Overview

Launched in partnership by TotalEnergies, Equinor, and Shell, Northern Lights represents a collaborative effort among three major energy companies, each holding an equal share at 33.3%. The project, which was approved by the Norwegian government in 2020 and designated as a Project of Common Interest by the European Union, has begun initial operations with a target to store 1.5 million tons of CO2 annually starting in September 2024. TotalEnergies has ambitious plans to scale up its CO2 storage capacity to over 10 million tons by 2030, enhancing its role in Europe's climate strategy. The North Sea region is particularly significant for the company, thanks to its longstanding operational expertise and geological capabilities.

Accelerating Decarbonization Efforts

Northern Lights aims to accelerate the decarbonization of heavy industry throughout Europe. The project will utilize geological layers buried approximately 2,600 meters beneath the seabed to safely sequester CO2 emissions. This method is seen as a crucial response to the pressing need for large-scale solutions in industrial sectors prone to high emissions.

The project is already drawing significant interest from various industrial players. Phase 1 of Northern Lights will provide storage for up to 1.5 million tons of CO2 annually, with plans in place to expand to 5 million tons per year as demand grows.

Commercial Agreements and Partnerships

The initiative's progress includes the establishment of a significant commercial agreement with Yara International, signed in August 2022. This agreement enables the transport and storage of 800,000 metric tons of CO2 captured from Yara's ammonia and fertilizer plant located in Sluiskil, Netherlands. The captured CO2 will be compressed, liquefied, and then shipped to the Northern Lights site in Øygarden, Norway, for permanent storage.

This agreement marks a pivotal step in demonstrating the feasibility of cross-border CO2 transport and could pave the way for similar collaborations across Europe.

Key Milestones

Several important dates highlight the project timeline:

• December 15, 2020: Approval from Norwegian authorities for the Northern Lights project.
• May 15, 2020: Investment decision for the transport and storage of CO2.
• August 29, 2022: First commercial agreement signed with Yara for CO2 transport.
• September 26, 2024: Completion of Northern Lights facilities, ready to commence CO2 storage operations.
• March 27, 2025: Launch of the second phase of the Northern Lights CCS project.

Conclusion

The Northern Lights project stands as a landmark initiative in global efforts to combat climate change by reducing industrial CO2 emissions. As it moves toward operational readiness and future expansions, the project exemplifies the potential for collaborative action in the energy sector to foster a more sustainable and low-carbon future.