Norway has officially launched Longship, the world’s first full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) value chain, setting a global benchmark in ESG leadership and carbon neutral strategy advancement. Backed by NOK 22 billion in public funding, Longship represents Europe’s largest climate tech investment to date, showcasing how public-private partnerships can drive industrial decarbonization. 

The comprehensive project captures CO₂ emissions from two major sites: Heidelberg Materials’ cement plant in Brevik (400,000 tonnes/year) and Hafslund Celsio’s waste-to-energy facility in Oslo (350,000 tonnes/year by 2029). The captured CO₂ is transported by ship to Øygarden, where it is permanently stored 2.6 km beneath the North Sea seabed. 

At the heart of Longship is the Northern Lights component, operated by Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies, which offers open-access CO₂ storage for emitters across Europe. Northern Lights has already secured commercial agreements with companies in Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands, positioning Norway as a central hub for cross-border carbon storage solutions. 

Minister of Energy Terje Aasland emphasized, “Longship demonstrates that cutting industrial emissions safely and effectively is possible. This project is not only vital for Norway but represents a breakthrough for CCS in Europe.” 

In its first phase, Northern Lights will store 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, with Phase 2 expansion approved to increase capacity to 5 million tonnes per year. The EU has designated Longship as a Project of Common Interest, unlocking an additional €131 million in funding. 

With total project costs estimated at NOK 34 billion, Longship’s inauguration underscores Norway’s commitment to ESG leadership and long-term carbon neutral strategy goals. The project provides a scalable, replicable model for industrial CCS, supporting the EU’s climate targets and proving that CCS can be a critical pillar of global decarbonization efforts. 

Source: 

https://esgnews.com/norway-launches-worlds-first-full-scale-carbon-capture-and-storage-value-chain/