Northern Lights, the First Major Carbon Capture and Storage Project in Norway – Total

Northern Lights: The First Major Carbon Capture and Storage Project

TotalEnergies, Equinor, and Shell have jointly developed the Northern Lights project, which allows industrial companies to transport and sequester their CO₂ emissions. Operational since September 2024, the Phase 1 installations have a storage capacity of 1.5 million tons of CO₂ per year.

Accelerating the Decarbonization of Heavy Industry in Europe

The Northern Lights project, approved by the Norwegian government in 2020 and designated as a Project of Common Interest (PIC) by the European Union, aims to transport, receive, and store CO₂ in geological layers buried below the seabed in the Northern North Sea. This project plays a crucial role in helping European industrial companies reduce their CO₂ emissions. The storage capacity during Phase 1 is 1.5 million tons of CO₂ per year, with plans to expand up to 5 million tons per year as demand increases.

A First Commercial Agreement with Yara

The first commercial agreement was signed with Yara in August 2022. Yara will transport and store 800,000 metric tons of CO₂ per year, captured from their ammonia and fertilizer plant in the Netherlands. The CO₂ will be compressed, liquefied, and permanently sequestered off the coast of Øygarden in the Norwegian North Sea.

The Northern Lights Project in a Few Dates

Key dates in the Northern Lights project:

1. 2020: Approved by the Norwegian government
2. 2022: First commercial agreement signed with Yara
3. 2024: Phase 1 installations become operational with a storage capacity of 1.5 million tons of CO₂ per year
4. 2030: TotalEnergies aims to develop a CO₂ storage capacity of more than 10 million tons

View text version of Image: Northern Lights, the First Major Carbon Capture and Storage Project in Norway

This map shows the stages involved in capturing, transporting, and storing CO₂ as part of the Northern Lights project, using the example of the Dutch-based company Yara. First, the CO₂ is captured, compressed, and liquefied in the Netherlands. Then it is shipped to the Northern Lights receiving terminal in Øygarden, Norway, and permanently sequestered in geological layers buried about 2,600 meters below the seabed in the Norwegian North Sea.

⁽¹⁾ Defined as key infrastructure projects to complete the European energy market in order to help the EU achieve its energy and climate policy goals.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 13: Climate Action
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

The article discusses the Northern Lights project, which aims to transport and store CO₂ emissions from industrial companies. This directly addresses SDG 13, which focuses on taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Additionally, the project contributes to SDG 9 by promoting the development of industry, innovation, and infrastructure in the context of decarbonization.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 13.2: Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies, and planning
• SDG 9.4: Upgrade infrastructure and retrofit industries to make them sustainable

The Northern Lights project aligns with SDG 13.2 as it involves the integration of climate change measures by providing a solution for industrial companies to reduce their CO₂ emissions. It also contributes to SDG 9.4 by upgrading infrastructure in the form of CO₂ transport and storage facilities, enabling the decarbonization of heavy industries.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• CO₂ storage capacity (in tons)
• Number of industrial emitters utilizing the shipping and storage service

The article mentions that the Northern Lights project has a storage capacity of 1.5 million tons of CO₂ per year during Phase 1, with plans to increase it up to 5 million tons per year based on demand. This CO₂ storage capacity can serve as an indicator to measure progress towards the target of integrating climate change measures into national policies and strategies. Additionally, the article highlights the interest from several industrial sectors in utilizing the shipping and storage service, indicating the potential number of industrial emitters that can be measured as an indicator of progress towards upgrading infrastructure and retrofitting industries.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Table

Source: totalenergies.com