Advancing Carbon Management Through Global Collaboration

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.