CCS Midt-Norge, Industry cluster for cooperation on CO₂ capture and transport in Mid-Noway – Phase 1

Background and project purpose?
CCS Midt-Norge Fase 1 (CCS Mid-Norway Phase 1) has been a cluster cooperation established by Equinor Tjelbergodden, Elkem Thamshavn, Franzefoss Minerals, Statkraft Varme, Wacker Chemie and SINTEF Energy. The project investigated the opportunities for energy intensive industries in Mid-Norway to develop a common infrastructure for CO₂ transport, as well as business models for capture, transport, use and storage of CO₂ (CCUS). A common infrastructure will comprise regional CO₂ transport, intermediate CO₂ storage and transport to permanent storage. The project has been a first step towards coordinated and cost-efficient reduction of CO₂ emissions in Mid-Norway.

What was the project objective?
The main project objective has been to contribute to the enabling of CCS in Mid-Norway by creating an industry cluster for development of CO₂ value chains and common infrastructure, as well as building knowledge and competence among the CO₂ emitters in Mid-Norway for implementation of CO₂ capture, transport and storage.

What has the project done in terms of activities?
The prerequisites for CCS in Mid-Norway have been mapped, beginning from the individual prerequisites of the industry partners. The project has investigated possible relevant solutions for common CO₂ infrastructure that comprises regional transport internally in the cluster, intermediate storage and shipping of CO₂ to final storage. The overall prerequisite has been that each partner takes care of CO₂ capture and purification at its own site before delivery to the common infrastructure. A techno-economic evaluation was made of different logistics alternatives. This also included further development of the SINTEF Energy value chain tool iCCS. Furthermore, there has been strong focus on regional dialogue and communication about CCS as a climate change mitigation measure.

The project has mapped common interests among the partners related to possibilities and challenges related to financial and commercial aspects, and the framework conditions for developing CCS projects for industry in Mid-Norway.

What has the project achieved? Did the project achieve its objective?
The project has, as planned, established an industry cluster for building knowledge and competence within CCS in Mid-Norway. Annual CO₂ emissions for the industries in the cluster amount to around 1.5 million tonnes. Several logistics options were analysed and the assumption was verified that there are cost benefits with cluster cooperation for CO₂ infrastructure.

Future plans?
Future plans comprise continued cluster cooperation towards one preferred concept for CO₂ capture and storage.