Pilot for digital CCS/CDR opplæring – Norsk ekspertise internasjonalt

Background
The main objective of the project was to test and validate a digital training format for international knowledge transfer in carbon capture and storage (CCS) and carbon dioxide removal (CDR), based on Norwegian project experience and expertise.

The project aimed to assess whether a modular, self-paced digital learning format, supplemented with interactive online sessions, could effectively engage international, non-technical decision-makers and project stakeholders, and contribute to capacity building in regions where knowledge of CCS/CDR is limited but increasingly necessary.

In line with the original project proposal, the pilot focused on validating the relevance, clarity, and effectiveness of the training format, rather than delivering in-depth technical instruction. Project success was evaluated based on participant engagement, learning outcomes, and qualitative feedback, collected through quizzes, surveys, and direct discussions.

An additional objective was to assess the potential for continuation, scaling, and adaptation of the training to additional topics and geographic regions, based on the results of the pilot.

Goal
The training module was designed to provide fact-based, practical, and decision-oriented knowledge, grounded in real project experience from Norwegian and international CCS/CDR projects.

The goal was to enable participants to develop a clear and structured understanding of feasibility, costs, risks, and enabling conditions for CCS and CDR, rather than to deliver in-depth technical training. The module focuses on supporting informed decision-making related to project development, financing, regulation, and market participation.

The pilot training specifically targeted mid-career professionals within the broader institutional ecosystem for CCS/CDR, including:
• project developers with limited experience in CCS/CDR,
• professionals in banking, insurance, and legal sectors,
• decision-makers and actors in the public sector.

The content was explicitly developed for decision influencers rather than highly technical audiences, with an emphasis on holistic understanding, interdisciplinary perspectives, and clarification of common misconceptions related to CCS and CDR.

Activities
The pilot training consisted of one thematic module presenting “Fundamentals of Industrial Carbon Management (ICM)”. Within this module, several complementary learning activities were implemented to introduce key concepts, test understanding, and support deeper learning.

Overview of activities
Activity
Lesson – What is industrial carbon management and why is it needed?
• 1 introductory video (2 minutes)
• 2 videos (approx. 8 minutes each)
• 2 short quizzes (4 and 6 questions respectively)
This activity introduces the role of CCS and CDR in climate mitigation strategies, clarifies key concepts and terminology, and positions ICM within the context of current climate targets and emissions pathways.

Deep dive – Will enough CO₂ be captured to meet climate targets?
• 2 videos (approx. 7 minutes each)
• 1 short quiz (8 questions)
Overview of the history and current status of CCS, with emphasis on Norway’s role as a pioneer and its long-term ambitions. The activity also explores possible global development pathways for the CCS sector.

Resources
Written material with links to additional resources Presentation of key CCS and CCUS databases as well as a selection of major CCS reports, allowing participants to explore data, project development, and trends in more detail.

Live session
Interactive online session. Review of key concepts and quizzes, discussion of open questions, and facilitated exchange of experiences on challenges and contested narratives related to CCS/CDR.

Results
The project resulted in the development and pilot implementation of a digital training module on Industrial Carbon Management (ICM), covering CCS and CDR, with selected references to CCU where relevant.

The training was designed to support non-technical decision-makers and project stakeholders who influence the deployment of CCS/CDR, but who often lack the time or technical background to follow in detail the rapid developments in technologies, markets, and policy frameworks.

Further Work
Based on the positive results from the pilot, Carbon Limits has:
• applied for CLIMIT funding to develop two new modules and establish a broader training package covering core ICM topics,
• plans to initiate broader outreach to additional stakeholders to further present and disseminate the training, building on the pilot experience, with the aim of reaching a wider audience at lower marginal cost, enabled by the initial CLIMIT support.