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Norway launches second carbon transport ship for Northern Lights project

Written by
ClimeFi Insights
Published on
06 January 2025
Norway launches second carbon transport ship for Northern Lights project

Norway's Northern Lights carbon storage project marks a milestone with the introduction of the Northern Pathfinder, enhancing efforts to capture and store CO2 from industrial sources across Europe.

A significant development has occurred in Norway's Northern Lights carbon storage project with the completion of a second CO2 transport ship, named Northern Pathfinder. This vessel is part of a fleet of four ships designed specifically for the initiative, aimed at collecting carbon dioxide from various industrial emitters situated across Europe.

The Northern Pathfinder follows the inaugural vessel, Northern Pioneer, which was delivered by Dalian Shipbuilding Industry in November 2024. The new ship is scheduled to make its journey to Norway in the coming months. Upon its arrival, the vessel will undergo a series of tests and optimisation processes before commencing operations at a receiving terminal located in Øygarden, as well as at the Brevik site where Heidelberg Materials plants are based. Heidelberg has implemented a carbon capture facility at its locations, which is expected to ensure a continuous supply of captured CO2.

In a related ceremony in September 2024, Norwegian Minister of Energy Terje Aasland presided over the official inauguration of the Northern Lights CO2 transport and storage facility in Øygarden, located near Bergen. This initiative is the result of a collaboration among Equinor, Shell, TotalEnergies, and the Norwegian government, demonstrating a united approach to addressing carbon emissions.

As the project moves forward, Equinor has announced that the facility is set to begin injecting carbon dioxide underground in early 2025. The initial storage capacity for the Northern Lights project is projected to reach up to 1.5 million tons (Mt) of CO2 per year, and this capacity is already fully booked, indicating strong demand from industrial emitters keen to participate in the carbon capture and storage efforts.

The Northern Lights initiative is positioning itself as a key player in the field of carbon removal and capture, contributing to broader efforts in combating climate change and facilitating the transition towards a lower-carbon economy.

Source: Noah Wire Services