Subsea CO2 storage: Norway is making waves
With over 50 years as a technology hub for subsea technologies, this year’s Underwater Technology Conference (UTC) focuses on “affordable energy”, highlighting cost-effective technologies through abstracts and discussions.
Technologies to capture, transport, and store CO₂ are essential. The equipment utilized today typically includes rigs and vessels that are highly specialized for the oil and gas industry. This existing equipment operates on different standards, and there is a pressing need for new, safe, and cost-efficient technologies that simplifies operations and reduces expenses.
Northern Lights Joint Venture, the world’s first commercial CO₂ storage provider, exemplifies this potential. The company is part of the Longship project which demonstrates the Norwegian Government’s ambition to develop large-scale CCS in Norway. Northern Lights has agreements to store CO2 from two Norwegian customers as part of the state support agreement. In addition, the company has entered commercial agreements with two customers in Denmark and the Netherlands. With the first phase capacity of 1,5 MTPA sold out, Northern Lights is planning for a next phase development to increase storage capacity to a total of 5 MTPA.
In Europe, other countries are also taking significant steps. Denmark has issued several storage licenses, and in the Netherlands, the government supports the development of CCS through programs like Porthos and Aramis, although Porthos has recently encountered budget overruns. This contrasts with the Northern Lights project, which has avoided financial pitfalls at transport, reception, and storage.
