Greater Bergen companies get 81 million to boost carbon capture tech

The public company Enova SF is owned by the Ministry of Climate and Environment and aims to contribute to a faster transition to a low-emission society. The investment support is made within Enova's program for preliminary studies to develop CCS technology, “Forstudie karbonfangst 2030”.

Boost investment decisions

Out of a total of NOK 200 million, the three regional companies received NOK 81 million:

• RÅCCS – Rådalen CCS/BIR AS in Rådalen: NOK 28,6 million.
• NorDAC Kollsnes/Carbon Removal AS in Øygarden: NOK 26,3 million.
• Norse Pine – Climeworks Norway DAC Feasability Study: NOK 26,0 million.  

- The funds for preliminary studies aim to boost the development of the technology needed to conduct CCS in Norway by 2030. When we support technology development, we mitigate the risk in the companies as these projects have low technology readiness and hence are expensive. This will help to develop the markets and the value chains supporting the core activity of CCS, says managing director in Enova, Nils Kristian Nakstad.

Enova will closely monitor the projects and use the learning points to understand the costs in developing this technology.

The waste disposal company BIR is responsible for a significant part of the emissions in Bergen. The Enova funds is used to develop technology to capture carbon from Rådalen and store it in Northern Lighs in Kollsnes. Photo: BIR. 

Linked to Øygarden

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a way of reducing carbon emissions by capturing the carbon dioxide produced by power generation or industrial activity. The CO₂ emissions from industrial processes, such as steel and cement production, or from the burning of fossil fuels in power generation, is captured and separated from other gases. By ship or via pipelines this carbon is transported to facilities where it can be injected and stored deep underground in geological formations.

All three projects are linked to the value chain in CCBS Energy Park.

The Energy Park is located in Kollsnes in Greater Bergen, along one of Norway's main sea routes. The park is a HUB for climate-friendly industries. Photo: CCB Energy Park. 

A core in the industry park is The Northern Lights facility, the world’s first cross-border, open source, CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure.  Serving as the transportation and storage component of Norway’s Longship project, Northern Lights also contributes to a complete CCS value chain, as well as offering this as a service.

The Swiss company Climeworks has looked to Norway and has settled in Bergen with initiative Norse Pine Climeworks Norway DAC Feasability Study.

- We are happy and proud that our project is awarded support from Enova. This will definitely contribute to trigger CCS technology, both in Norway and globally, says CFO in Climeworks, Andreas Aepli.

Buzzing industry

The CCB Energy Park in Kollsnes is a great example of how Greater Bergen is standing on the shoulders of a lang history in the oil and gas industry as the region now is crucial in developing both CCS and blue hydrogen production. Along with the region’s key infrastructure and facilities, Greater Bergen supplies a highly innovative labour force, comprehensive knowledge bases and a network of collaborative firms.

The industry is booming. Could your company fit into this innovative and future-based HUB? Reach out to any of our advisors if Invest in Bergen can help your business settle in our region.