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

Introduction

The Northern Lights project marks a significant milestone in environmental sustainability as Norway’s first major initiative aimed at carbon capture and storage (CCS). This landmark project, owned equally by TotalEnergies, Equinor, and Shell, will play a crucial role in reducing CO2 emissions from industrial sources across Europe.

Project Overview

Approved by the Norwegian government in 2020 and recognized by the European Union as a Project of Common Interest, Northern Lights is designed to capture, transport, and store CO2 emissions in geological formations located approximately 2,600 meters beneath the North Sea seabed. The project aims to start operations in September 2024, with an initial storage capacity of 1.5 million tons of CO2 per year.

Goals and Capacity

TotalEnergies aims to increase its overall CCS capacity to over 10 million tons by 2030, focusing on both its facilities and services for industrial clients. The Northern Lights project is a key component of this strategy, expected to facilitate significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in Europe’s heavy industries.

Phased Implementation

The Northern Lights project will unfold in phases. The first phase will commence with the capacity to store 1.5 million tons of CO2 annually. In response to growing demands from various industrial sectors, a second phase is set to start in March 2025, which will escalate the storage capacity to over 5 million tons by 2028. ### First Commercial Agreement In a notable development, TotalEnergies signed its first commercial agreement with Yara in August 2022. This partnership will see Yara, an ammonia and fertilizer plant in the Netherlands, capture 800,000 metric tons of CO2 a year, which will then be transported to the Northern Lights facility for permanent storage.

Operational Timeline

Key milestones outline the project's progress:

  • 2020: Approval from the Norwegian authorities for the CCS project.
  • 2022: Signing of the first commercial agreement with Yara.
  • 2024: Facilities expected to be completed and operations to start.
  • 2025: Final investment decision for the project's second phase to increase capacity.

Conclusion

The Northern Lights project stands as a pioneering effort in carbon capture and storage, reinforcing Norway’s commitment to environmental sustainability and support for European decarbonization goals. With significant backing from major energy companies and government approval, this initiative sets a benchmark for similar projects around the world, showcasing the potential of CCS technology to mitigate climate change impacts from industrial emissions.