“There will be no CCS industry without expertise”

“The work of the Programme Board is very rewarding. First, it gives first-hand knowledge about an exciting research field, nationally and globally that is important for reaching ambitious climate goals. Second, it is a privilege to be able to influence strategic choices for research and technology development and thereby impact Norway’s and other countries’ realization of carbon capture and storage goals. Third, but not least, the fact that the discussions we have around the table include perspectives and insights from different disciplines, professions, and sectors is both very fruitful and necessary for the realization of CCS and the breadth of the CLIMT Program Plan.

How do you encounter CCS in your day-to-day work?

As a researcher, I directly encounter CCS-related issues in many of the projects I work on. An example: I do research on how to accelerate energy transitions in ports and sectors related to ports. Here, the development of CCS and transportation is relevant. In many projects where the aim is to create more sustainable transitions and value chains, CCS is an important solution to achieve CO₂ reductions or zero emissions goals, as CCS is one of many climate solutions necessary for achieving the enormous cuts in emissions that our planet needs.     

What do you think is CLIMIT’s most important contribution to the green transformation?

Focusing the program on carbon capture research and technology development related to emissions from ‘hard to abate’ sectors, typically cement and chemical production, has been a good priority. In general, the relatively good framework conditions for research in this field have  given Norwegian technology communities an advantage internationally, providing them with significant market opportunities and forming the basis for strong climate initiatives both in Norway and around the world. The challenge now is to facilitate research at a higher TRL level, by which I mean create even more mature technologies, and thereby help to accelerate CCS activities across many different industries.   

What should CLIMIT prioritize in terms of technology development in the future – where are the gaps?

I am not a technologist, so from my perspective, the attention should not only be on improving carbon capture and storage technologies. One must focus on the entire CCS value chain and the need to realize CCS projects at the scale required to achieve significant emissions reductions locally, nationally, and globally. This depends on building infrastructure, legislation, and acceptance for CCS among those being impacted in different ways. The CLIMIT programme should therefore also support research that gives crucial in-depth knowledge on relevant societal issues pertaining to CCS.

What needs do you see for the CLIMIT programme over the next five years?

The CLIMIT programme is justified by its contribution to research that develops and accelerates strong CCS projects. The number of applications is increasing, and the quality is generally very good. There is no doubt as to whether we need CLIMIT: it is the provision of sufficient resources that determines whether its aims can be met. In this context, I think it is important to highlight that shortage of competence may be an obstacle to building a large and vibrant CCS industry if not properly supported. Thus, the government should continue providing resources for research and development in this field. CLIMIT should also be able to act as a facilitator for idea development and expertise building – creating arenas for dialogue between researchers and industry across various projects. This will push CCS and the world forward!”