The Norwegian government submitted a document to parliament proposing to launch the most extraordinary climate project in the Norwegian industry ever – a $2.7 billion carbon capture and storage (CCS) project called Longship, named after the Viking ships. The state will finance 16.8 billion kroner (US$1.8 billion) out of an estimated total investment of 25.1 billion ($2.7 billion) kroner. The project is a massive contribution to green growth.
Erna Solberg, the Norwegian prime minister, said:
Longship is a milestone in the government’s industry and climate efforts. The project will lead to emission cuts and facilitate the development of new technology and, thus, new jobs.
For Longship to be a successful climate project for the future, other countries also have to start using this technology. This is one of the reasons why our funding is conditional on others contributing financially as well.
The government funding will cover a carbon capture project at the Heidelberg Cement factory in southern Norway and Fortum Oslo Varme’s waste incineration facility in Oslo. The latter project will happen, providing that the company secures sufficient funding from other sources, such as the EU.
Fortum claims that the project would remove as much pollution from the atmosphere annually – equal to 60,000 cars. Together, both facilities running would capture about 400,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Tina Bru, Minister of Petroleum and Energy, said:
Longship is the greatest climate project in the Norwegian industry ever. We will cut emissions, not progress.
Longship will also include funding the transport and storage project Northern Lights – a joint venture between European oil majors Shell, Equinor, and Total. The project involves taking liquid CO2 from the capture plants to a facility at Øygarden in Vestland County. From there, it’s moved via pipeline into an offshore geological formation in the North Sea.
The United Nations IPCC has said that to most economically reduce global greenhouse gas emissions in line with the climate targets will require CCS.
Sveinung Rotevatn, Minister of Climate and Environment, said:
For the world to achieve the goals that we have committed ourselves to in the Paris Agreement, we need large-scale carbon capture and storage. Not all emissions can be cut by applying renewable energy. In several industrial processes, such as cement production, CCS is the only technology that can cut emissions. With Longship, Norway will support the development of climate solutions for the future.
Longship assists the progress of CCS in both Norway and Europe, and beyond. It will also help Norway with its commitment to cutting domestic emissions by 50-55% by 2030.
The government said:
For many years, various Norwegian governments have supported technology development, test and pilot projects, and underscored the importance of carbon capture and storage as an important climate tool internationally. The present government has followed up this work and made targeted efforts on CCS since 2013.
There are currently few facilities in operation on a global basis. We, therefore, need more projects that bring learning and technological development. In turn, they will help reduce costs. If CCS is to become an efficient climate policy instrument, new facilities must be established in Europe and globally.
For decades energy companies, industry, and governments have hailed CCS as central to an effective strategy to reduce emissions and transition to a lower-carbon future. However, very few commercial projects exist in the world. Hopefully, Longship will change that. The development of CCS has to speed up, and Norway’s on it!
