Northern Lights Pioneering Open-Source CO2 Transport & Storage Project

17th February 2025

Northern Lights is developing the world’s first open-source infrastructure for CO₂ transport and storage, providing a groundbreaking solution for industrial companies to manage and reduce their emissions. Owned equally by TotalEnergies, Equinor, and Shell, the project became operational in September 2024 and has the capacity to store 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂ annually in its first phase.

With strong backing from the Norwegian Government and its owners, Northern Lights offers a practical pathway for decarbonising industries in Norway and across Europe, making significant strides toward achieving net-zero goals.

How Northern Lights Works
The project's innovative infrastructure enables:

• CO₂ Transport - Captured CO₂ is transported from industrial capture sites by ship to a receiving terminal on Norway's western coast.
• Intermediate Storage - CO₂ is temporarily stored at the onshore terminal.
• Permanent Storage - The CO₂ is transported via pipeline to a secure reservoir located 2,600 meters beneath the seabed in the North Sea for permanent sequestration.

Phase 1: Longship Collaboration
Northern Lights forms the transport and storage component of Longship, the Norwegian Government’s full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) project. Longship showcases the viability of CCS as a decarbonisation strategy, with the goal of inspiring similar initiatives across Europe and globally.

Key elements of the Longship project include:

• Capturing CO₂ from industrial sites in the Oslo-fjord region (e.g., cement and waste-to-energy facilities).
• Shipping liquefied CO₂ to the onshore terminal.
• Transporting CO₂ via pipeline to the offshore subsea storage site.

A Commercial CCS Market for Europe
Northern Lights is designed to be open and flexible, creating opportunities for third-party participation in CO₂ transport and storage. By developing a scalable and accessible infrastructure, the project aims to foster the growth of a commercial CCS market in Europe. This cross-border initiative offers industries across the continent the ability to safely and permanently store their CO₂, reducing emissions while supporting economic growth. Phase 1, operational since 2024, will be followed by future expansions to further increase storage capacity.

Norwegian Leadership in CCS
The Norwegian Government’s leadership and investment in CCS have been instrumental in bringing Longship and Northern Lights to life. These projects represent Norway’s ambition to establish a full-scale CCS value chain, demonstrating the potential of carbon capture as a critical solution for industrial decarbonisation.

Looking Ahead
With its open-source model and pioneering infrastructure, Northern Lights is a beacon of innovation in the fight against climate change. It positions Norway and Europe at the forefront of industrial decarbonization, providing scalable solutions for reducing emissions and achieving climate targets. By demonstrating the viability of CCS as a service, Northern Lights is paving the way for a sustainable and net-zero future. 

From a shipping and marine perspective The arrival of the liquefied CO₂ carrier Northern Pioneer represents a significant milestone in advancing carbon capture and storage (CCS) within the maritime sector. Fully operational, the vessel is designed to transport liquefied CO₂ from capture facilities to Northern Lights’ receiving terminal in Øygarden, where the CO₂ will be permanently stored underground. This confirms the converging path of both the CCS and shipping industry sectors which is occuring more often now and in the future.

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