Greater Bergen could store CO2 for Europe

The Norwegian authorities are now studying the possibilities for carbon capture and storage (CCS) in the North Sea. The technology for capturing and storing carbon has already been developed, but huge costs remain in relation to capturing, transporting and storing carbon in the North Sea.

According to the Minister of Petroleum and Energy Kjell-Børge Freiberg, the Norwegian government will make an investment decision on the project in 2020/2021.

Norwegian expertise

Two Norwegian companies are already working on plans to ship carbon to the western part of Norway, and store it at Kollsnes just outside Bergen. From there, the CO2 will be fed through pipelines for storage in old oil wells in the sea.

The two companies – one of which is a cement company outside of Oslo, while the other handles waste for Greater Oslo – are eager to store their carbon and reduce their CO2 footprint.

If the government decides to lay the foundations for CCS in the North Sea, there will be opportunities for companies from other parts of Europe to store their CO2 at Kollsnes. The storage area is large enough to fit significant amounts of carbon.

For Norway, storing CO2 is seen to play an important role in complying with the Paris Agreement. Norway has expertise in capturing and storing CO2, as well as subsea competence and a wealth of experience from operating in the Norwegian continental shelf.

Kjell-Børge Freiberg (far left), Norway’s Minister of Petroleum and Energy, and Børge Haugetun (far right), the Mayor of Øygarden municipality, discussed the CO2 storage project at a recent meeting.

Creating jobs

If realized, this project will also work to save existing jobs and create new jobs.

“We strongly believe that there will be new companies interested in using the CO2 storage facilities in the Kollsnes area. Kollsnes is a big industrial area, and there will be many possibilities for establishing other initiatives in that area,” says Mayor Børge Haugetun in Øygarden municipality, just outside Bergen.

Haugetun also emphasizes that a centre like this would also save jobs in existing industries, as these industries could take on responsibilities for handling CO2 supplies.