Norway Launches World’s First Full Carbon Capture and Storage Value Chain with $2B Government Investment

6 月 20, 2025

9:58 上午

Key Impact Points:

Global First: Longship becomes the world’s first full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain, marking a new era in industrial decarbonization.
Scalable Impact: Initial capacity of 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂ to expand to over 5 million tonnes annually in Phase 2, backed by €131M in EU funding.
International Model: The open-access Northern Lights storage hub has already secured CCS agreements with firms in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden.

Norway’s Historic CCS Breakthrough

Norway has officially launched Longship, the world’s first complete carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain – from industrial capture to permanent seabed storage. The milestone project is Europe’s first at this scale and is supported by NOK 22 billion in state funding, part of a total NOK 34 billion investment.

“Longship demonstrates that it is possible to cut emissions from the industry and waste in a safe and effective way. This is a technological breakthrough and a milestone in Norway’s climate efforts. We have built a complete value chain for CO₂ management that will have significant impact far beyond our borders,” said Minister of Energy Terje Aasland

End-to-End Solution, Ready for Global Replication

The project integrates CO₂ capture at Heidelberg Materials’ cement plant in Brevik and, by 2029, Hafslund Celsio’s waste-to-energy plant in Oslo. Captured CO₂ is transported by ship and injected into subsea reservoirs 2,600 meters beneath Øygarden in western Norway.

The first CO₂ shipment from Brevik has already been delivered, with injection into storage reservoirs scheduled for August 2025.

Northern Lights Opens Access to Europe

Northern Lights, a joint venture between Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies, operates the offshore transport and storage component. It is the first open-access Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) infrastructure of its kind. Agreements are already in place with Yara (Netherlands), Ørsted (Denmark), and Stockholm Exergi (Sweden).

The EU has designated the project a “Project of Common Interest,” unlocking €131 million through the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF).

Phase 2 Will More Than Triple Capacity

Longship Phase 1 will store 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂ annually. With the Norwegian Ministry of Energy’s approval of Phase 2, this will grow to over 5 million tonnes per year, making the project a cornerstone of the EU’s decarbonization strategy.

National Investment in Climate and Industry

“This is an investment in future jobs, technology, and industry. Longship will demonstrate that CO₂ management is safe, feasible, and necessary to meet climate goals in Norway and the EU,” said Aasland.

The initiative aligns with Norway’s strategy to build a green economy while leveraging its 25+ years of CO₂ storage experience from the North Sea.

Longship Launch Celebrated with Global Stakeholders

The project’s inauguration is marked by a two-day ceremony (June 17–18) in Oslo and Brevik, featuring:

The naming ceremony of the CO₂ ship Northern Pathfinder
A high-level conference at the Oslo Opera House
The official opening of the Heidelberg Materials capture facility

Longship by the Numbers

Carbon Capture Capacity: 400,000 tonnes (Brevik), 350,000 tonnes (Oslo, 2029)
Storage Depth: 2,600 meters beneath seabed
Annual Storage: 1.5 million tonnes (Phase 1), over 5 million tonnes (Phase 2)
Partners: Equinor, Shell, TotalEnergies (Northern Lights); Heidelberg Materials; Hafslund Celsio

Longship is both a technological and political breakthrough, proving that heavy industry and climate action can move forward together.