Combination of membrane technology and liquefaction results in excellent energy efficiency and high purity of the end products. The project MACH-2 was a collaboration between SINTEF Industry, SINTEF Energy, and NTNU. CLIMIT supported the project with NOK 7.5 million.

A Key Energy Carrier

Hydrogen is a crucial energy carrier in the transition to a low-emission society. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with hydrogen production from natural gas, CO₂ must be effectively captured and managed. The MACH-2 project, which ran from 2019 to 2024, developed a novel process that integrates two established capture technologies.

– Our approach was to combine hydrogen production using Protonic Membrane Reformer (PMR) technology with low-temperature CO₂ capture via liquefaction in a new, integrated process – where both technologies operate within their optimal performance ranges, says Thijs Peters, Project Manager at SINTEF Industry.

CO₂ Purity and Calorific Value

The membrane technology uses ceramic materials to produce hydrogen from natural gas, which is reformed directly on the membranes. The process is powered by electricity and internal heat generated during hydrogen separation through the membrane. The retentate gas, what does not pass through the membrane, contains CO₂, water vapor and residual hydrogen.
– Membranes are excellent for extracting hydrogen, but there is a limit to how much can be recovered before efficiency declines. Therefore, we allow a portion to remain and capture CO₂ in the subsequent stage, Peters explains. The retentate is then processed in a separate unit, where CO₂ is liquefied through cooling and pressurization.

Model Validation

Several experiments were conducted during the project period. Membrane stability was tested for up to 1800 hours, including variations in gas composition and hydrogen withdrawal. Liquefaction experiments were performed using gas mixtures containing hydrogen, methane and carbon monoxide. To accommodate these experiments, the Cold Carbon Capture Pilot rig in Trondheim was upgraded. The tests demonstrated that CO₂ could be separated at up to 99.9 % purity, under pressures between 40 and 70 bar and temperatures as low as -55 °C. – We compared the results with simulation models. The models aligned well with the experiments, which gives us confidence in relying on simulations for designing future systems, says the SINTEF Industry project manager.

Low Energy Loss and High Capture Rate

Through simulation and optimization, MACH-2 developed a process flow model for the entire system. It demonstrates that an integrated process provides higher energy efficiency and lower CO₂ emissions, compared to more conventional hydrogen production methods with CO₂ capture. This indicates that the concept is economically competitive.

Ready for Next Phase

Results are now being carried forward in new projects, including a planned demonstration facility with a hydrogen production capacity of 50 kg per day. The technology is also being applied in European projects where membranes are used for biogas capture.

The “Disruptive CO₂ Capture” (CO₂ Adsorption Technology) project has total budget of NOK 24 million, of which 50 % is financed by CLIMIT.  

While CO₂ capture using solvents is currently the dominant method, it remains expensive and energy intensive. Adsorption, where CO₂ is captured by solid materials called sorbents, offers a promising alternative. The goal is clear; reduce both capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operating costs (OPEX), by at least 20 % compared to current leading absorption systems.

– We’re trying to find the best material-process combination. Ambition is to optimize both the sorbent material and the process design to reduce costs and improve efficiency, says Dr Shreenath Krishnamurthy, Senior researcher and Project Manager at SINTEF.

Why Adsorption?

Unlike solvent-based absorption systems, which rely on chemicals to bind CO₂, adsorption uses solid materials to capture CO₂ molecules directly from flue gases. Potential advantages are many; lower energy requirements, better atmospheric emission profiles, and possibly more compact plant designs. Adsorption is not yet mature for point source CO₂ capture, with many technical hurdles to overcome.

A Theoretical Backbone

At the heart of the project is a sophisticated simulation model designed to test different combinations of materials and processes. DCC3 aims to evaluate temperature swing adsorption processes for NGCC flue gas. The team is building a flexible mathematical framework and cost framework which can simulate a range of adsorption processes from fixed beds, rotary beds, fluidized bed and moving bed processes, by switching specific parameters on and off. These simulations are grounded in gas-phase thermodynamics, adsorption kinetics, and equilibrium data.

The model will help the team optimize each process and adsorbent for performance and cost, validate key parameters, and ultimately select the most promising adsorbent and process configuration for future pilot testing.

– It’s not just about the best material; it’s also about finding the right process design. We’re doing a lot of simulation work to forecast CAPEX and OPEX, and we’re collecting and feeding experimental data to refine our models, Dr Shreenath Krishnamurthy continues.

Overcoming Data Gaps

One of the key challenges is the lack of publicly available data, especially concerning how sorbents interact with water vapor in flue gases. This has required new experiments and delayed some parts of the project. – In many cases, we don’t have the data we need from literature, so we’re measuring some properties ourselves, and also testing hypothetical ideal sorbents to understand the performance gap and identify research objectives to decrease carbon capture cost, says Dr Heng

The lack of data hasn’t stopped progress, but it has shaped the project’s direction. By exploring both existing and hypothetical materials, the team can map out what an ideal system would look like, and what would need to improve in current technologies to get there.

Broader Implications

Although this project focuses on post-combustion capture from natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) plants, its outcomes could influence other CO₂ capture applications, including direct air capture.

The collaboration has already sparked two additional joint projects between SINTEF and TotalEnergies, focusing on carbon capture. The projects coordinated by SINTEF are funded by the clean energy transition partnership (CETP) and TotalEnergies plays an active role in the project.

One technical objective which stands out is minimizing the physical footprint of future carbon capture units. If adsorption technology can achieve both cost and space efficiency, it could make retrofitting existing plants, especially in space-constrained brownfield sites, much more feasible. – In greenfield cases, we have more flexibility. In brownfield projects, integration is very complex. This is why we need compact, efficient solutions, says Dr Heng at TotalEnergies.

Looking Ahead

The project aims to reach Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 within four years. By the end, partners will conduct a thorough comparison between the newly developed adsorption technology, and current solvent-based systems. This will form the basis for a “go/no-go” decision regarding future development.If successful, the project could pave the way for design of a pilot unit, taking a major step toward commercial implementation.

Discussions centred on key advancements in carbon capture, utilization, and storage, as well as the role of innovation and international collaboration in scaling these technologies.

Since 2005

Since its inception in 2005, CLIMIT has been instrumental in developing Norwegian and international solutions for CO₂ management. The program, a collaboration between Gassnova and the Research Council of Norway, has supported more than 800 projects focusing on research, development, and the demonstration of CCS technologies. With a strong emphasis on knowledge-sharing, this year’s summit continued to serve as a platform for industry leaders and policymakers to exchange insights on advancing carbon management solutions.

Update on Longship

During the first sessions, representatives from Northern Lights, Brevik CCS, and Hafslund Celsio provided updates on Norway’s ongoing CCS projects. Northern Lights has reached full operational capacity, including CO₂ transport ships and a dedicated storage terminal, paving the way for commercial-scale carbon storage. Brevik CCS is nearing completion, preparing to capture emissions from cement production, while Hafslund Celsio has secured its final investment decision for its waste-to-energy CCS plant in Oslo, scheduled to be operational by 2029. These projects exemplify Norway’s leadership in demonstrating how CCS can reduce industrial emissions while fostering economic growth.

The Longship project remains central to this effort, serving as a blueprint for global CCS deployment by proving the feasibility of large-scale carbon management.

Europe’s climate strategy

A major highlight of the summit was the European Commission’s perspective on CCS as a cornerstone of Europe’s climate strategy. Rosalinde van der Vlies introduced the EU’s “Competitiveness Compass,” a roadmap aimed at securing economic growth while achieving climate neutrality. She emphasized the need for robust investments in CCS infrastructure to meet the EU’s target of storing 50 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, by 2030. The role of CCS in industrial decarbonization and clean tech competitiveness was a key takeaway, with the Commission reaffirming its commitment to supporting the development and deployment of these technologies through policy frameworks and funding initiatives.

UK and USA

Charlotte Powell from the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero highlighted Britain’s substantial investment in CCS, amounting to £21.7 billion over 25 years. The UK government is focusing on the development of regional CCS clusters, particularly the East Coast Cluster, set to begin construction in 2025. Powell underscored the strategic importance of leveraging the North Sea’s storage potential and strengthening collaborations with Norway. The UK’s investment in CCS reflects a broader global trend of integrating carbon capture into national net-zero strategies.

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Mark Ackiewicz provided insights into America’s accelerating carbon management efforts. With 19 operational facilities and over 200 CCS projects in development, the U.S. is rapidly expanding its carbon capture, transport, and storage capabilities. Ackiewicz highlighted the importance of international partnerships, particularly with Norway, in advancing CCS technology. He also emphasized the role of U.S. national laboratories in driving innovation in hydrogen production, CO₂ removal, and industrial decarbonization, reinforcing the importance of research and development in achieving long-term climate goals.

Strategic priorities

The discussions also looked ahead to the future of CCS, with Trond Moengen, Chair of Gassnova, and Eva Falleth from the Research Council of Norway, outlining strategic priorities leading up to 2030. Moengen underscored 2025 as a pivotal year for CCS, as the Longship project reaches full operational capacity, demonstrating an integrated CO₂ value chain. He emphasized the importance of continuous research, operational improvements, and cost reduction strategies to make CCS more economically viable. Falleth echoed this sentiment, stressing the crucial role of industry-academia collaboration in driving innovation. The seamless cooperation between Gassnova and the Research Council of Norway was highlighted as a key factor in Norway’s CCS advancements, ensuring that CLIMIT remains a cornerstone of future research and development initiatives.

AI and Carbon Management

The final day of the summit brought attention to the role of Artificial Intelligence in accelerating CCS deployment. Julio Friedmann emphasized how AI can optimize key aspects of carbon management, including CO₂ transportation, storage site selection, and permitting processes.

AI-driven solutions have the potential to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and streamline regulatory compliance. Friedmann highlighted AI’s potential in material discovery, digital twinning for retrofitting existing facilities, and enhancing decision-making for CO₂ storage sites. However, he stressed the need for better data access and cross-sector collaboration to fully harness AI’s capabilities in the energy sector.

Juho Lipponen from Mission Innovation called for a rapid scale-up of carbon management technologies to gigaton levels by 2030. He underscored the role of international initiatives like the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM) and Mission Innovation (MI) in fostering global cooperation, policy development, and investment in CCUS and carbon dioxide removal (CDR). Lipponen emphasized the need for stronger partnerships between governments, industries, and research institutions to accelerate the deployment of scalable carbon management solutions. The importance of data sharing and financing mechanisms was highlighted as critical enablers for achieving commercial viability in CCS projects.

CCS Status Worldwide

Jarad Daniels from the Global CCS Institute provided an overview of the current state of CCS deployment worldwide. With 50 operational projects capturing approximately 50 million tonnes of CO₂ annually and an additional 44 projects under construction, CCS is expanding at an unprecedented rate. Daniels highlighted the need for continued policy support, financial incentives, and strategic industry collaborations to ensure CCS scales in line with global climate targets. The Global CCS Institute remains committed to providing expertise and data to accelerate the adoption of carbon management technologies across diverse sectors and regions.

CLIMIT´s crucial role ahead

As the summit concluded, the overarching message was clear; CCS is a critical tool in the fight against climate change, and Norway remains at the forefront of this technological revolution. The CLIMIT program has played a crucial role in bridging the gap between research and industrial applications, positioning Norway as a global leader in CO₂ management. As Longship transitions into full-scale operation and CCS technology continues to evolve, the insights gained from this year’s summit will shape the next phase of carbon management, ensuring that CCS remains a viable and scalable solution for reducing global emissions.

The next CLIMIT Summit will be held in 2027.

At the 2023 CLIMIT Summit, the CLIMIT Award was presented for the first time. This year, the award celebrates three winners who have been instrumental in the launch of Longship, each making invaluable contributions to Norway’s ambition of establishing a full-scale CCS value chain. These pioneers – Oscar Graff, Per Brevik, and Philip Ringrose – exemplify innovation, perseverance, and leadership in the field.

Oscar Graff: A Trailblazer in CO₂ Capture

For nearly three decades, Oscar Graff has been at the forefront of CO₂ capture technology, playing a critical role in its development from laboratory research to full-scale industrial applications. His journey in CCS began in 1997, a time when carbon capture was still in its infancy and faced significant scepticism. However, Graff’s unwavering determination and visionary leadership have propelled the field forward, overcoming obstacles and transforming challenges into opportunities.

A defining aspect of Graff’s career has been his ability to bridge the gap between research and industrial deployment. Under his leadership, CO₂ capture technology advanced through a step-by-step process: from early-stage laboratory testing to pilot demonstrations at Tiller, and ultimately, large-scale implementation at the Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) – world’s most advanced CO₂ capture testing facility. His dedication ensured that the technology not only met scientific validation but also gained commercial viability.

One of Graff’s remarkable achievements was leading the development of a mobile CO₂ capture unit, housed in a container, which travelled the world to demonstrate the feasibility of CCS in diverse industrial settings. This pioneering approach significantly contributed to the global recognition of Norwegian CO₂ capture expertise. As a senior leader at Aker, later integrated into SLB Capturi, Graff played a crucial role in ensuring CO₂ capture technology transitioned, from experimental projects to market-ready solutions. His relentless advocacy and technical expertise have made a lasting impact, paving the way for CCS adoption worldwide.

Per Brevik: A CCS Driving Force in the Cement Industry

A true champion of large-scale CCS implementation, Per Brevik has been instrumental in bringing CO₂ capture to one of the most challenging sectors: cement production. His vision and persistence have played a decisive role in the realization of Norway’s first full-scale industrial CCS project, at Heidelberg Materials’ Brevik cement plant.

Brevik’s influence within the CLIMIT program dates back to 2012, when he was a key figure in securing the largest single funding allocation ever granted by the program’s steering committee. Recognizing the strategic importance of CCS in the cement industry, he worked tirelessly to turn the vision of carbon capture at Brevik into reality. His ability to rally industry stakeholders, secure financial backing, and navigate regulatory complexities was essential to the project’s success.

As Director of Sustainability at Heidelberg Materials, Brevik faced the challenge of convincing an international corporation – initially hesitant about CCS – to embrace the technology as a key climate solution. Through relentless advocacy and strategic leadership, he succeeded in positioning CCS as an integral part of the company’s sustainability roadmap. His efforts have set a global precedent, demonstrating that large-scale CO₂ capture in cement production is not only feasible, but also commercially viable.

The cement plant in Brevik is now a cornerstone of the Longship project, marking a historic milestone in Norway’s CCS journey. By proving that carbon capture can be integrated into hard-to-abate industries, Brevik has laid the foundation for future projects worldwide.

Philip Ringrose: A Global Authority on CO₂ Storage

In the field of CO₂ storage, few individuals have had as profound an impact as Dr. Philip Ringrose. A leading geoscientist and internationally recognized expert in reservoir modelling, Ringrose has dedicated his career to ensuring the safe and effective long-term storage of captured CO₂. His work has been instrumental in bridging scientific research and practical applications, providing the foundation for large-scale CCS deployment.

Throughout his career, Ringrose has contributed groundbreaking research on geological storage capacity, site selection, and monitoring techniques. His expertise has played a crucial role in shaping best practices for CO₂ storage, ensuring captured emissions are safely and permanently sequestered underground. As a professor and industry advisor, he has mentored the next generation of CCS professionals, fostering a collaborative global network dedicated to advancing CO₂ storage science.

Beyond his technical contributions, Ringrose is admired for his leadership, mentorship, and advocacy. His ability to communicate complex scientific concepts to diverse audiences – from policymakers to industry executives – has been invaluable in securing broad-based support for CCS initiatives. His contributions extend beyond Norway, influencing international CCS standards and collaborations. Ringrose’s work has not only advanced scientific understanding but has also played a crucial role in ensuring that CCS remains a key pillar in global climate strategies.

Congratulations to Oscar Graff, Per Brevik and Philip Ringrose!

To achieve climate neutrality, it is not enough to stop all emissions CO₂ must also be removed from the atmosphere (carbon removal), according to the IPCC. The CLIMIT programme will now help to realise this through value creation in Norway. Do you have an idea for a project? Get in touch with us!

Growing demand for Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) by 2050

Interest in Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) is increasing, and CLIMIT has allocated funding for such projects in 2025. The CLIMIT programme will process applications on a rolling basis, and all applicants must follow CLIMIT’s standard procedure, which can be found here.

Examples of technological solutions within CDR:

• DACCS – Direct Air Capture (DAC) with Geological Storage
• BioCCS – capture and geological storage of CO₂ from industries using biological feedstocks/fuels
• Biochar – for industrial and agricultural use with long-term soil storage (as a soil amendment).
• Mineralisation (formation of carbonates for durable storage)

BioCCS: The most mature solution

BioCCS is currently the most mature solution with the greatest potential in terms of tonnes of CO₂ stored per year. The industry views bioCCS as an enabler for CCS, as capturing and storaging biogenic CO₂ emissions can facilitate sale of carbon credits, strengthening business models.

In Norway, CDR activities primarily focus on bioCCS and biochar. Additionally, Norwegian companies like Removr, Climeworks Norway and Carbon Removal have received support from Enova for studies on direct air capture (DAC).

Purpose of CDR funding in CLIMIT Demo

There is an increasing need for CDR expertise in industry and research. It is important that CDR solutions (technologies, methods, value chains) are tested and evaluated well before 2050, when these solutions will play a larger role in keeping the temperature increase below the 2-degree target (ref. IPCC).

Norwegian funding instruments, including Enova, the Research Council, Innovation Norway and Gassnova, currently support CCS. However, there is up to now not a specific focus on CDR.

Open call now in 2025

The CLIMIT programme will be able to support industrial projects and research projects in collaboration with industry in the following themes

• BioCCS
• Biochar/biochar with a focus on long-term storage for industrial and possibly agricultural use
• DAC with CCS
• Enhanced Mineralization by injecting CO₂ into the bedrock
• Development and evaluation of methodologies in line with EU regulations – to clarify whether a project contributes to carbon removal, such as LCA (Life Cycle Analysis), TEA (Techno-Economic Analysis) and MRV (Measurement/Monitoring-Reporting-Verification).

Applicants are encouraged to explore the possibility of establishing Nordic or international collaborations with industry and/or recognised research institutions.

For two decades, the CLIMIT program has been instrumental in developing Norwegian and international solutions for CO₂ management. The program is a collaboration between Gassnova and the Research Council of Norway.

Development, Testing, and Commercialization

Since 2005, CLIMIT has contributed to the development, testing, and commercialization of CO₂ management technologies. CLIMIT Summit 2025 will be a key milestone in this journey, providing a platform to discuss the road ahead. With a strong technical program and site visits to various facilities, the conference offers a unique opportunity to network and exchange knowledge across disciplines and borders.

Dedicated Conference on CDR and Site Visits

This year, CLIMIT Summit includes a dedicated conference on Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) in collaboration with Mission Innovationn CDR. There will also be site visits to Longship project stakeholders and the Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM), the world’s largest and most flexible test center for CO₂ capture technology verification.

A Platform for Knowledge Sharing

Since its inception in 2010, CLIMIT Summit has grown to attract nearly 350 participants from around the world.

20 Years of Technology Development

Since its launch in 2005, CLIMIT has played a central role in the development of CO₂ management technologies. The program has supported more than 800 projects focused on research, development, and demonstration of carbon capture and storage (CCS), many of which have led to concrete industrial solutions.

CLIMIT and the CO₂ Value Chain

CLIMIT has closely collaborated with research institutions, as well as industry partners. The strong link between research and industry has positioned Norway as a global leader in CO₂ management. CLIMIT also plays a key role in developing business models for CCS and facilitates cooperation across industrial sectors.

A prime example is Longship, where past CLIMIT-supported projects have been groundbreaking in realizing Norway’s first large-scale CCS project. Longship is also Norway’s largest industrial climate initiative.

As Longship moves into operational phases, valuable insights will be gained, contributing to further cost reductions and technological improvements for future CCS projects.

The project has received funding of over NOK 4.8 million from CLIMIT. DNV is collaborating with Equinor, Shell, TotalEnergies, and Gassco, with the work expected to conclude by summer 2025.

Background

Klas Solberg, DNV’s project manager, explains the origins of the project.

«Safe & Sour»

In the context of carbon capture and storage (CCS), “safe” refers to ensuring CO₂ is handled securely, reducing risks of leaks or harm to the environment and humans. This includes proper design and operation of storage sites. “Sour” is a term from the oil and gas industry related to the presence of H₂S, a substance with a foul smell reminiscent of rotten eggs.

Strict purity requirements for CO₂ can drive up costs since removing H₂S and other impurities is both complex and expensive. The DNV project is exploring whether the limits for H₂S can be safely increased, and what material choices are necessary to accommodate H₂S presence.

This could make CCS more economically feasible for more stakeholders. The topic is particularly relevant for projects like Longship, where pipelines are a critical part of the infrastructure. By understanding how H₂S affects materials, this research project aims to contribute to updated and more cost-effective design and operational standards.

Objectives

The project’s recommendations will be used to update DNV’s Recommended Practice – DNV-RP-F104: Design and Operation of Carbon Dioxide Pipelines. – This guidance is used by the industry for the design and operation of CO₂ pipelines. We aim to provide the industry with tools to balance safety and cost effectively, Klas Solberg says.

Joint Industry Project

– The project operates as a ‘Joint Industry Project,’ where we collaborate with stakeholders across the CCS value chain. Partners like IFE, Wood, and DNV USA contribute their expertise in material testing and analysis, Klas explains. The primary focus is testing what concentrations of H₂S can be tolerated without damaging pipelines.

The project also leverages experience from the oil and gas industry, applying established methods and knowledge to address CCS challenges. – By combining knowledge and experience across sectors, we can contribute to a safe and cost-effective framework for CCS. Norway, as an energy nation, has many significant advantages, which this DNV project capitalizes on. In turn, it makes CCS more accessible to global stakeholders, enabling knowledge sharing beyond borders, says Ernst Petter Axelsen. He is Gassnova’s advisor in the DNV project, which is part of CLIMIT’s contribution.

CLIMIT provides legitimacy

– Broad and trusted collaboration is critical for a project like this, says Klas Solberg. DNV plays a key role as a facilitator and independent party, helping industry partners reach a common understanding, and develop standards and practices acceptable to the entire industry. CLIMIT’s support enhances the project’s legitimacy, particularly internationally.

Results so far

– To date, we have developed test procedures that identify mechanisms causing pipeline damage from high H₂S concentrations. This has provided valuable insights into how materials are affected under different conditions. Although the experimental work is ongoing, the project has already established an important foundation for further research and development.
The recommendations so far offer the industry new perspectives on managing H₂S in CO₂ streams, Klas Solberg concludes.

Gassnova has covered related topics in articles such as Low-Pressure CO₂; Greater Transport Volumes and Increased Capacity and CO₂ Transport; Norwegian Expertise Sets Impurity Limits.

As part of the energy transition, this project focuses on developing safe, efficient solutions capable of meeting climate goals on a gigaton scale. NORCE Research Director and Adjunct Professor Sarah Gasda explains the objectives of the MuPSI project. Together with scientific findings presented at the GHGT-17 conference in Calgary, she provides an overview of MuPSI’s work on pressure management and risk minimization in CO₂ storage.

The CLIMIT programme has invested in international collaboration for many years. Initially through Accelerating CCS Technologies (ACT), and now through a new international partnership, the Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP). The MuPSI project is supported through CETP, meaning that Norwegian partners receive financial support from CLIMIT, while foreign partners are funded by agencies in their respective countries.

Background and Main Objectives of MuPSI

The MuPSI project is organized in collaboration with partners from the United States, Scotland, Spain, and the Netherlands – where technical expertise and experience are shared to develop standardized and scalable solutions. The Norwegian portion of the project begins at the start of the new year. Sarah Gasda emphasizes that MuPSI’s technical aspects are demanding, and good teamwork is essential for safe implementation of these methods.

MuPSI is designed to enable carbon storage at a gigaton scale, necessary to meet the international climate goals set by the IPCC. Achieving this scale requires developing shared CO₂ hubs, allowing multiple stakeholders to utilize common storage areas and surface infrastructure cost-effectively. Such hubs could also reduce logistical costs and simplify the overall management of CO₂ storage. At the same time, sharing storage infrastructure introduces new challenges, as pressure increases from one actor could impact neighbouring licenses. This can create complex ripple effects requiring careful risk management, monitoring, and modelling.

Technological and Geological Challenges

CCS relies on the ability to securely store CO₂ in underground formations. The MuPSI project focuses particularly on how CO₂ injection pressure can be managed when multiple actors, operate within the same area. Gasda describes how aging storage fields, the development of renewable energy sources, and the integration of sustainable solutions are central to MuPSI.
– We must ensure that technical and environmental requirements are met in all aspects of storage, says Gasda. This entails thorough testing and modelling to ensure safe and reliable storage over time.

Research shows that pressure from CO₂ injection can move faster and over greater distances. This is a critical factor, as pressure displacement can affect nearby licenses – potentially reducing available storage capacity due to increased risk of leakage and seismic events.
MuPSI is developing hierarchical models that combine regional pressure and stress analysis with detailed local simulations. This enables monitoring of pressure conditions across larger areas, while accounting for specific geological features at the local level. This is essential for evaluating the risks associated with pressure increases, giving operators an accurate assessment of how much CO₂ they can safely inject, without negatively impacting other stakeholders in the area.

Infrastructure and Pressure Impact

According to Gasda, one of the benefits of considering overarching infrastructure for CO₂ storage, is that it enables injection and storage of large amounts of CO₂ from multiple actors in a cost-effective manner.

Northern Lights is an example of how shared resources can be used for CO₂ injection. Northern Lights acts as a hub that can receive CO₂ from multiple sources, and store it in underground formations in the North Sea. Such hubs require advanced pressure management models, as pressure from one actor may influence the capacity plans of neighbouring licenses.

The MuPSI project examines how CO₂ injections from multiple actors in the same area can lead to overlapping pressure zones, which could affect the storage capacity of different stakeholders. – In practice, this means neighbouring injections could impact the capacity an operator believes they have available, Gasda continues. If one actor has sold storage capacity and later discovers that neighbouring injections alter pressure conditions, it may be necessary to adjust agreements. To reduce the risk of unforeseen changes in capacity, MuPSI views the entire region as a single resource, planning storage capacity as a unified entity. This approach facilitates better risk management, cost control, and long-term, purposeful planning.

Experience from Oil and Gas Activities

In addition to new CO₂ injections, MuPSI must consider previous oil and gas activity in the area. According to Gasda, pressure changes resulting from oil and gas production can affect how much CO₂ can be safely stored over time. Research shows that geological formations previously exposed to extraction, may have entirely different pressure conditions than undeveloped areas.
– This is especially true in areas where large amounts of hydrocarbons have been extracted, Gasda explains. She notes that pressure conditions in such fields may require customized models, to understand the changes that occur when new CO₂ injections begin in the same area.

Long-term Predictions and Risk Management

Sarah Gasda explains that the prediction timeframe in MuPSI spans several decades, which is essential for a project aiming to store large amounts of CO₂ over time. – With a thorough understanding of the geology, we can develop predictions that provide a realistic picture of future pressure conditions, covering all potential scenarios, she says. Research shows that long-term models offer more robust planning support, allowing stakeholders to base decisions on more reliable forecasts.

International Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing

DInternational collaboration in the MuPSI project is essential. Gasda emphasizes the value of working with partners from, among others, Scotland and the United States. Scottish partners contribute expertise in geomechanics and field measurements. Research partners from Spain bring strong theoretical knowledge. They participate to learn from the project and build their knowledge of CO₂ storage. – For the Spanish, this is an opportunity to learn from our experience with real models and projects, gaining practical insights that could support CO₂ storage projects in Southern Europe, where this technology is less developed, she says.

The MuPSI project facilitates the exchange of technical insights that could have broad international applications. By using case studies and comparative data from the United Kingdom, MuPSI can analyse different geological structures’ responses to CO₂ storage under varying conditions. This provides valuable insights into which solutions may be most effective in various regions.

Longship and Northern Lights

MuPSI is relevant to Northern Lights, a hub for offshore CO₂ injection in Norway – and an important part of the Longship project. Gasda points out that MuPSI aims to provide insights into how activities by other operators might impact licenses around the Northern Lights area.
– Our work provides insights into planning and ensuring optimal use of shared infrastructure on a large scale, Gasda explains. This helps maximize resource utilization while reducing the risk of one operator’s activities negatively impacting another.

MuPSI’s work on pressure management is a key piece in scaling carbon storage to gigaton levels. By developing a structure that grants all stakeholders access to reliable, up-to-date information on pressure conditions, MuPSI contributes to making carbon capture and storage even safer and more efficient.

The main objective of CLIMIT is to contribute to the development of technologies and solutions for CCS. The programme funds research, development and innovation that can contribute to the long-term development of CCS as a climate measure where giga tonnes of CO₂ are captured and stored worldwide.

The Research Council’s part of the CLIMIT programme will provide funding for the following calls for proposals in autumn 2024 and throughout  2025:

Call for proposals	Available funding	Application deadline	Link to calls for proposals
International projects through the CETP Joint Call 2024	NOK 40 million	21 November 2024	Link
Collaborative projects (KSP-S)	NOK 40 million	5 March 2025	Link
International projects through the CETP Joint Call 2025	NOK 30 million	Autumn 2025	The Call will be published on the CETP website spring 2025

In addition, Gassnova’s CLIMIT-demo programme will also have a call for proposals in 2025. More details on the opportunities through Gassnova’s part of CLIMIT can be found here.

Limited budget

CLIMIT has a limited budget and therefore only collaborative and international projects will be prioritized in 2025.

This means that there will be no earmarked funding for CCS in the Research Council’s calls for Innovation Projects (IPN) and Knowledge-building Projects (KSP-K) in 2025.

Applicants interested in innovation projects are referred to the CLIMIT-Demo call.

Collaborative projects

CLIMIT har i en årrekke prioritert utlysning av kompetanseprosjekter (KSP-K), samtidig som det er flere år siden CLIMIT hadde For several years now, CLIMIT has prioritized calls for Knowledge-building Projects (KSP-K), while it has been several years since CLIMIT had a call for Research Projects. As a result, the share of basic research in the CLIMIT portfolio has been declining for several years. In 2025, Collaborative Projects (KSP-S) will therefore be announced, which will be open to applications for new concepts. The aim of this prioritization is to increase the share of basic research in the CLIMIT portfolio.

Important features of KSP-S are

• The projects develop new knowledge and build research expertise needed by society and/or industry to address major societal challenges.
• The projects are at or close to the state of the art.
• Projects must have at least two Norwegian partners who are not research organizations. These must be societal or business actors who contribute experience and knowledge and ensure that the project and its objectives address relevant challenges. The application must demonstrate that at least 10 percent of the total project costs will be allocated to these partners. However, there is no requirement for cash contributions from industry partners.

Further details on collaborative projects are available on the Research Council’s website.

CETP international calls for proposals

International RD&D collaboration is important for the successful implementation of large-scale CCS. The Clean Energy Transition Partnership (CETP) has annual calls for RD&D proposals. Applications must include partners from at least three of the countries participating in CETP.

The CETP 2024 call for proposals has deadline for submitting pre-proposals 21 November 2024.

The CETP 2025 call for proposals will be published in spring 2025 with deadline for submitting pre-proposals in November 2025.

How to contact us

Please contact Aage Stangeland at the Research Council of Norway if you have any questions.

The goal is to reduce both risk and cost while increasing understanding of the caprock on the Norwegian Continental Shelf (NCS). The project is supported by CLIMIT with 400,000 NOK. Gassnova’s CLIMIT representative Ernst Petter Axelsen is the project’s advisor.

Objective

A central goal is to reduce the risk and costs associated with CO₂ storage. By increasing understanding of how the sediments and caprock behave during CO₂ injection, the risk of leakage can be reduced, ensuring safe and efficient gas storage. This contributes to predictability and fewer incidents that could lead to unforeseen expenses. The quality or integrity of the caprock is critical for safe, permanent, and reliable CO₂ storage in the subsurface.

By developing and testing a new model of how sediments change their properties over time, Brit Thyberg hopes to predict which areas are best suited for CO₂ storage. The aim is to subdivide the subsurface into systems and identify which areas and intervals have caprock of sufficient quality. This contributes to safe and efficient injection and storage of CO₂.

– The knowledge from this project can be utilized to develop AI algorithms, digital maps, or atlases, allowing us to predict the systems and utilize this information actively in our analyses and decision-making processes in real time, says Brit, who encourage collaboration on this work.

A Natural Laboratory

– We are lucky to work with the geology of the North Sea, as we have a natural laboratory with regional and stratigraphic variations, providing an excellent opportunity to study the complex processes that affect the composition of sediments in the subsurface, says Brit Thyberg. She explains that these sediments represent both opportunities and challenges.

The Cenozoic overburden in the North Sea consists of several different sedimentary units. This includes Paleogene marine swelling clays, sandy turbidites and injectites/synkites, and Neogene deltaic sand as well as offshore marine clays. Although these variations represent opportunities for CO₂ storage reservoirs in the Cenozoic, they also pose challenges related to the sealing capacity of clays and claystones of the caprock. Clays and claystones mainly consist of different types of clay minerals (e.g. smectite, illite, chlorite, kaolinite), as well as silt, biogenic, and organic material. The primary composition varies depending on erosion from different source areas, climate, depositional environment, and variations in the supply of volcanic and clastic material. Variations in mineralogical composition can affect how the sediments respond to increasing pressure and temperature with greater burial depth. The regional and stratigraphic variations make it particularly important to understand the density and sealing capacity of clays and claystones above the reservoirs.

To predict which areas and intervals have favourable caprock properties for CO₂ storage, Brit emphasizes the importance of regional understanding and mapping.

Dedicated Professional Innovator

For over 20 years, Brit Thyberg has been engaged in the study of North Sea geology, digitalization, technology development, and exploration, often at the forefront of innovation. – With a PhD in “overburden” focusing on clays and claystones in the North Sea, I see a great potential to systematize and utilize this knowledge for CO₂ storage.

Brit’s career in clay research began in the mid-1990s when she was involved as a doctoral research fellow in an extensive EU project led by Professor Knut Bjørlykke at the University of Oslo. The aim was to integrate mineral data from cuttings with seismic and well logs to better understand the Cenozoic overburden in the North Sea. The interdisciplinary approach and integration of multiple data types in a large regional project was innovative. – What was new was also the expansion of our knowledge base on the composition of sediments in the shallower Cenozoic overburden in the North Sea. At that time, the focus was primarily on oil, gas, and the properties of deeper reservoir rocks, says Brit. She adds that the University of Oslo’s Department of Geosciences became, in many ways is a centre of expertise on clays and claystones through several major research projects.

Caprock Quality

In the large EU project, we found that clay minerals have different chemical and physical properties that influence the compaction degree of claystones in the subsurface. For example, we documented that coarse-grained glacial Pliocene clay undergoes relatively rapid mechanical compaction, whereas fine-grained Eocene smectite-rich clays derived from volcanic material, or fine-grained Pliocene marine smectite-rich clays, compact much more slowly. We also found a regionally extensive clay layer consisting of a mix of diatoms and clay minerals from the Oligocene in the northern North Sea, says Brit.

Diatoms are small, microscopic organisms composed of silica. When mixed with clay, the properties of sediments change, including their ability to function as a sealing layer for CO₂ storage. However, these rock properties change with increasing burial depth. Professor Bjørg Stabell also discovered a -new- diatom species in the North Sea, named after Brit Thyberg: – Paralia Thybergii. The microfossil resembles the Colosseum in miniature.

Brit points out how different types of clay can influence the density of the caprock. The caprock must be dense enough to contain the gas but also be able to adapt to mechanical pressure and chemical changes without fracturing. – For instance, the presence of diatoms in clays and claystones can change the quality of the caprock, affecting how well it retains CO₂.

By understanding how clay, diatoms, and various clay minerals affect the caprock properties, researchers can better predict which areas are most suitable for CO₂ storage.

In 2012, Brit and her former colleague Professor Jens Jahren received a research award for their work on clay research. Brit combined geology with knowledge from network theory, which she had previously learned during her master’s in technology management, allowing us to view clays and claytones “with new eyes”. The findings from this research have significant relevance to Brit’s work on the CLIMIT project. The major collaborative industry project “NOROG Digital Cuttings” has also played an important role.

Data Digitalization

In 2018, the industry initiated a comprehensive three-year collaboration to digitalize cuttings data, which had previously only been stored, for example, at the Norwegian Offshore Directorate. Cuttings are small pieces of the subsurface taken out during well drilling. Over 700,000 samples from 1,934 exploration wells on the Norwegian Continental Shelf were digitalized and analysed. – The samples provide valuable information about the composition of the subsurface, particularly regarding sediment composition and intervals that may be relevant for CO₂ storage, says Brit. She compares the process to drilling through a wall: – First you hit the wallpaper, then the gypsum board, and then the brick, with different material composition. In the same way, we utilize cuttings to analyse the differences in the composition of layers in the subsurface and obtain information about what is deposited. Cuttings provide researchers with insight into the entire drilling interval, not just intervals where cores have been taken. The digitalization project opened a new landscape for research and understanding of the subsurface, particularly of the shallower layers relevant for CO₂ storage in the North Sea. Several operators and vendors on the NCS have incorporated the large dataset into their digital solutions. Further development and integration of cuttings data will be an important part of Brit Thyberg’s work to enhance knowledge about the properties of caprocks.

In the CLIMIT project, Brit utilized the data to screen for wells with clay-rich diatom layers, similar to those found in the 1990s. It turns out that many of these NOROG wells contain the mix of clay and diatoms in specific layers, including in several wells near current CCS licenses on the NCS. Increased knowledge of clay and its mechanical and chemical compaction can be useful for various projects, from infrastructure development to safe waste storage, offshore wind, and the green transition within oil and gas.

The Road Ahead

Business development has its challenges, especially in securing ownership of one’s work. To establish agreements and secure commercial ownership, Brit says it feels reassuring to have advice from Ernst Petter Axelsen and CLIMIT supporting her. – I have already experienced that having CLIMIT on board strengthens the integrity of the project. This will be important going forward, especially in dialogue with potential industry partners and collaborators, says Brit. By continuing the work, she hopes to develop innovative models, systems, and AI algorithms that provide even better understanding of how the subsurface can be utilized for CO₂ storage. Brit Thyberg’s driving force is to make CO₂ storage even safer and more cost-effective, and increase the knowledge about the caprock, based on research-driven innovation.