In total, the industrial players in the consortium emit over 1.6 million tons of CO2 annually. This corresponds to more than six percent of Norway's total emissions from the emissions trading sector in 2021. Until now, each player has been working separately on solutions for how to reduce emissions at their respective facilities, but now they are joining forces to take their ambitions a step further.
- "Being world-leading players in our various industries is a commitment: By working together, we increase our opportunities to develop cost-effective infrastructure for transportation and storage, as well as ensure access to good support and financing schemes for our solutions," says Kåre Bjarte Bjelland, Director of Strategy and Communications at Eramet Norway.
- Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is a safe and necessary solution for decarbonizing the industry. Equinor has successfully captured and stored CO2 under the seabed at the Sleipner field in the North Sea since 1996. Now it's a matter of finding local solutions, in this case how the industry in Haugalandet together can transport and store significant amounts of CO2," says Olav Bådsvik, Equinor's senior vice president for the Kårstø process plant.
A common infrastructure for transportation and intermediate storage can speed up the implementation of CO2 capture at the individual company.
- Naturally, each player continues to work on capture solutions for themselves and their business, and now we are joining forces to find efficient joint solutions for transport and storage to realize the cuts faster and in an even more cost-effective way," says Arne Martin Kjærland, plant manager at Hydro Karmøy.
- To arrive at the ideal joint solution for Haugalandet, a number of factors must be taken into account. The amount and purity of CO2 emissions, the degree of capture and proximity to the port, to name but a few. The safety of the facilities and the capture, transportation and storage of CO2 is of course the basis for all the solutions," says Øystein Rossebø, director of business development and projects at Gassco.
CCS HAUGALANDET: From left: Øystein Rossebø, director of business development and projects at Gassco, Kåre Bjarte Bjelland, director of strategy and communications at Eramet Norway, Tiril Fjeld, general manager of Haugaland Næringspark, Olav Bådsvik, Equinor director of Kårstø process plant, Arne Martin Kjærland, plant manager at Hydro Karmøy (Photo: Grethe Nygaard)
Knowledge of opportunities and conditions for joint infrastructure for handling CO2 will also be a major advantage in attracting new industry to the region with a need for CO2 capture and storage in order to produce with low or zero emissions. With the development of a new 420 kV power line from Blåfalli to Gismarvik, available gas export infrastructure and large, regulated industrial areas in Haugaland Business Park, Haugalandet has the potential for major industrial growth in the years to come. In particular, the region is a suitable location for large-scale hydrogen production to meet both domestic demand and exports to Europe.
- "Haugalandet should put in place infrastructure for CO2 management. Not only to decarbonize and convert existing industry, but to better facilitate tomorrow's new industrial establishments and jobs," says Tiril Fjeld, general manager of Haugaland Næringspark.
- "The fact that all the major emission points are involved makes the project particularly effective and provides a solid basis for analyzing a common infrastructure. It is gratifying to be able to work together with the forward-thinking industry on Haugalandet for the solutions of the future," says Brage Rugstad Knudsen, head of research at the gas technology department at Sintef Energy.
Footnote:
A study conducted by Haugaland Næringspark and Sintef last year confirms that the industry on Haugalandet represents several of the country's largest point emissions of CO2, including the process plants of Hydro Karmøy, Eramet Norway Sauda and Kårstø process plant.
The report can be read in full here:
https://sintef.brage.unit.no/sintef-xmlui/handle/11250/2832770