TotalEnergies and Partners Advance Northern Lights CCS Project with Phase 2 Expansion
TotalEnergies (Paris: TTE) (LSE: TTE) (NYSE: TTE), in collaboration with its partners Equinor and Shell, has announced the Final Investment Decision (FID) for the second phase of the Northern Lights Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project. This ambitious expansion aims to increase the project’s CO2 transport and storage capacity from 1.5 million tons to over 5 million tons per year by 2028.
Phase 1 Achievements and Readiness for Operations
The first phase of Northern Lights has been successfully completed and is now ready to receive CO2 from industrial emitters. Operations are scheduled to begin in the summer of 2024, with the first shipment of captured CO2 set to be transported by ship from Heidelberg Materials’ cement factory in Brevik, Norway. The CO2 will then be permanently stored in a subsurface reservoir located 2,600 meters below the seabed, off the coast of Øygarden in western Norway.
Phase 2 Expansion: A Significant Milestone for CCS Development
The second phase of the project represents an investment of approximately NOK 7.5 billion (~$700 million). This expansion leverages existing onshore and offshore infrastructure and introduces new developments, including:
- Additional onshore storage tanks
- Enhanced pumping systems
- A dedicated jetty for CO2 reception
- Additional injection wells
- New transport vessels to support increased capacity
All components are expected to be completed Norway and fully operational by the second half of 2028, marking a significant advancement in Europe’s CCS efforts.
Strategic Commercial Partnerships and European Decarbonization Goals
The FID for Phase 2 follows a landmark 15-year commercial agreement between Northern Lights and Stockholm Exergi, Sweden’s leading district energy Norway provider. This agreement will facilitate the cross-border transport and storage of 900,000 tons of biogenic CO2 emissions annually starting in 2028. Stockholm Exergi is the fifth company to commit to Northern Lights, joining Heidelberg Materials and Celsio from Norway, Yara from the Netherlands, and Ørsted from Denmark.
With demand for CCS solutions growing, Northern Lights is engaged in advanced discussions with several major European industrial players to utilize the remaining storage capacity, further reinforcing its role in meeting Europe’s climate targets.
Leadership Perspectives on the Future of CCS
Nicolas Terraz, President of Exploration & Production at TotalEnergies, emphasized the significance of the project:
“I am delighted with the launch of Northern Lights Phase 2, which represents a significant step forward for the CCS industry. Northern Lights offers a concrete solution Norway for hard-to-abate industrial emitters in Europe, enabling them to reduce their CO2 emissions and ensure their long-term sustainability.”
Tim Heijn, Managing Director of Northern Lights JV, highlighted the importance of building a commercially viable CCS market:
“The decision to expand our CO2 transport and storage services represents the next step in establishing a robust CCS market in Europe. This milestone Norway underscores Northern Lights’ commitment to providing effective solutions for emission reduction and supporting Europe’s climate ambitions.”
About Northern Lights CCS Initiative
Northern Lights is the first fully commercial CCS project offering CO2 transport and storage services in Europe. Captured CO2 is liquefied at the source and shipped to an onshore receiving terminal in western Norway before being transported via pipeline for permanent storage beneath the seabed. The initiative is part of Longship, the Norwegian government’s full-scale CCS project, and has already secured commercial agreements with multiple industrial partners across Europe.
Northern Lights JV DA operates as a general partnership with shared liability, jointly owned by Equinor, TotalEnergies, and Shell.
For more information, visit: www.norlights.com
TotalEnergies and Its Commitment to Carbon Storage
TotalEnergies prioritizes emissions reduction through the implementation of cutting-edge technology and innovative CCS solutions. The company is actively developing industrial-scale carbon storage projects across multiple regions, including:
- Northern Lights (Norway)
- Northern Endurance Partnership (UK)
- Bayou Bend (USA)
- Aramis (Netherlands)
- Bifrost (Denmark)
About TotalEnergies
TotalEnergies is a global integrated energy company operating in over 120 countries. With more than 100,000 employees, the company is dedicated to providing sustainable, reliable, and affordable energy solutions, including oil, biofuels, natural gas, green gases, renewables, and electricity.
For more details, visit: www.totalenergies.com
A Pioneering Step in the Future of Carbon Capture and Storage
With the approval of Northern Lights Phase 2, TotalEnergies, Equinor, and Shell continue to lead the way in advancing CCS as a critical tool for industrial decarbonization. As Europe strives to meet its ambitious climate goals, projects like Northern Lights will play a pivotal role in reducing emissions and securing a sustainable future for generations to come.