Northern Lights JV (NL) is the transport and storage component of Longship, Norway’s full-scale CCS initiative. The infrastructure enables CO₂ to be transported from industrial emission sources to permanent storage in geological formations beneath the seabed in the North Sea. In parallel with developing physical infrastructure, the project also aims to contribute to international knowledge sharing.

An international reference project

NL has published the “Annual Benefits Realisation and Knowledge Sharing Report 2025.” The report summarises how experience gained from developing infrastructure for CO₂ transport and storage is shared nationally and internationally. It documents a broad range of activities throughout the year – from delegation visits and professional events to media engagement and collaboration with industry and authorities.

Øygarden as a learning arena

The visitor centre in Øygarden, outside Bergen, has developed into a key hub for CCS knowledge. In 2025, NL welcomed 3,218 visitors across 211 delegations from government, industry, academia and interest organisations. The visitor centre is described in the report as “a global hub for carbon management.”

In total, more than 15,000 people from 73 countries have visited the facility since its opening in 2021. Approximately half of the delegations represent industry, while the remainder come from government bodies, research institutions and the public sector.

Among the delegations in 2025 were representatives from the UK Parliament, Swiss authorities, Members of the European Parliament, and energy ministers from several countries. These visits provide participants with insight into the entire CCS value chain – from CO₂ capture at industrial facilities to transport by specially designed ships and permanent storage beneath the seabed.

More than 100 international events – and growing demand

The report also shows how NL shares experience through an extensive programme of conferences and professional forums. Over the course of the year, NL participated in more than 100 international events where technological, regulatory and commercial aspects of CCS were discussed.

Through presentations, workshops and roundtable discussions, the project shares experience from the planning, construction and commissioning of the facility. Such knowledge sharing can help reduce uncertainty and costs for new CCS projects.

Milestones attracting attention

Several events during 2025 marked important milestones for NL. Notably, the first arrival of the CO₂ transport vessel Northern Pioneer attracted significant international attention. The ship is specifically designed for transporting liquefied CO₂, from industrial capture sites to the storage facility on the Norwegian continental shelf.

– The experience is valuable internationally

Senior Advisor Technology at Gassnova, Jale Mutlu, believes that knowledge sharing from NL is a central part of the value created by Longship. – Experience from Northern Lights has significant international value. Sharing insights from the first full-scale projects enables new actors to reduce both risk and cost when developing their own CCS solutions. Northern Lights has become an important knowledge partner for governments, industry and financial stakeholders now working to establish a European market for CO₂ storage. This openness helps build trust in the technology and makes the path forward easier for those who follow, says Jale Mutlu.

A new report from Northern Lights JV (NL) highlights how knowledge sharing can accelerate the establishment of a European market for CO₂ management.

CCS as a climate solution for industry

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) identifies carbon capture and storage (CCS) as a necessary measure to reduce emissions from industrial sectors such as cement, waste, chemicals and metal production. At the same time, CCS is still in an early phase of commercial development.

The “Annual Benefits Realisation and Knowledge Sharing Report 2025” from NL shows how experience from Norway’s full-scale CO₂ management project is being shared with stakeholders worldwide. The objective is to enable faster and more cost-efficient development of new projects.

Demonstrating the full value chain

NL is the transport and storage component of Longship, and is the world’s first open-access infrastructure for CO₂ transport and storage. The system enables industrial emitters to send CO₂ for permanent storage beneath the seabed in the North Sea. Through presentations, delegation visits and workshops, experience from the planning, construction and operation of CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure is shared. This provides decision-makers and industry with insight into how CCS can be implemented in practice.

Strengthened international cooperation

The NL report shows strong international interest in Longship. Delegations from governments, industry and research communities across a wide range of countries visit the facility in Øygarden to learn about technology, logistics and regulatory frameworks. At the same time, NL actively participates in international conferences and industry forums where project experience is presented. This dialogue contributes to the development of common standards and regulatory frameworks for CCS – faster and at lower cost than today.

Reduce costs for new projects

A key effect of knowledge sharing is that experience from NL can reduce risk and costs in future CCS projects. By sharing practical experience from development and operations, new actors can avoid errors and inefficient solutions. This supports faster and more cost-effective deployment of the technology.

A storage solution for European industry

The NL report highlights how the infrastructure can help manage emissions from industry across several European countries. By transporting CO₂ for storage beneath the Norwegian continental shelf, European industrial companies gain access to a solution that may not exist in their home countries. This positions the Norwegian continental shelf as a key component of Europe’s future climate infrastructure.

– Knowledge sharing accelerates new CCS initiatives

Jale Mutlu, Senior Advisor Technology at Gassnova, states that the knowledge from NL has relevance far beyond Norway. – Knowledge sharing is essential to accelerating CCS. Experience from Northern Lights has significance far beyond Norway. If CCS is to deliver the emission reductions Europe requires, projects must be scaled faster and at lower cost than today. Insights from the first full-scale projects are therefore invaluable. The knowledge sharing from the pioneers in Northern Lights is a highly important contribution to this development, says Mutlu.

The NL report may be downloaded here.

The experiences from Northern Lights JV (NL) also demonstrate the importance of research and technology development as the foundation for the Longship project, of which NL is a part. Longship illustrates how CLIMIT projects support the development, operation, and further maturation of the storage solution on the Norwegian continental shelf.

Longship

The Longship initiative enables European industry to transport CO₂ for permanent storage on the Norwegian continental shelf. The experience report from NL provides a comprehensive overview of lessons learned from the establishment and start-up of the entire value chain. The report describes, among other things, operational experience with purpose-built CO₂ carriers, commissioning of the onshore receiving terminal, and coordination of logistics between capture, transport, and storage.

2025 marked a major milestone for NL. The liquid CO₂ transport vessels became operational, the receiving terminal in Øygarden received its first deliveries, and the complete Longship value chain was brought into operation. The experience gained from Longship provides a unique foundation for understanding how industrial CO₂ value chains function at full scale.

Complex logistics in a new industry

The experience report shows that a CO₂ value chain is more complex than many previous analyses have suggested. For reservoir injection to operate reliably, the entire chain – from capture to storage – must function in parallel. Variations in CO₂ production affect ship loading and transport planning. Injection operations depend on a stable and continuous supply of CO₂.

The experience highlights that close coordination among all actors in the value chain is essential to maintain continuous operations. This applies not only to transport and logistics, but also to monitoring of the storage area, an area where several CLIMIT projects play a direct role in strengthening NL’s operational robustness.

The CLIMIT programme

To document that CO₂ is stored safely and permanently, operators must be able to track reservoir behaviour over time. This requires advanced monitoring systems capable of detecting even minor changes in the subsurface.

Several CLIMIT-supported projects have been developed for application areas represented by NL. A key example is the H-Net-3 project, where Equinor, together with partners, is establishing and further developing a regional seismic monitoring network for the Horda Platform, storage site for NL. The project aims to enable continuous measurement of background seismicity, so that changes related to CO₂ injection can be identified and understood in real time.

In parallel, new technologies are being developed through projects such as DAS4HNET, where fibre-optic cables are used as sensors to detect microseismic events near the injection area. The project involves a broad industry consortium, including NL, and aims to improve both the detection and localisation of seismic events, as well as to integrate data into operational decision-making systems.

These projects illustrate how research activities are not generic, but closely linked to NL’s areas of operation – from baseline establishment prior to injection to continuous monitoring during operations.

Interaction between research and operations

Experience from NL demonstrates how research and industrial operations mutually reinforce each other. Full-scale operations provide insight into practical challenges and operational conditions, while research projects develop technologies that can reduce risk and improve monitoring.

In seismic monitoring in particular, the connection between the projects and NL is evident: H-Net-3 establishes the reference baseline for natural seismicity, while DAS4HNET develops next-generation measurement methods for continuous and more precise monitoring of the storage site. Together, this provides a more comprehensive understanding of how the subsurface responds to CO₂ injection.

Senior Advisor Technology at Gassnova, Jale Mutlu, considers this interaction essential for the development of CO₂ storage.

A foundation for the next generation of CO₂ storage

The Longship project provides experience that cannot be obtained through simulations alone. At the same time, research provides a critical knowledge base for further technological development.

Development of projects such as H-Net-3 and DAS4HNET demonstrates how the CLIMIT portfolio functions in practice as an operational technological support system. Operational experience identifies needs, while projects develop solutions that can be rapidly tested and implemented within the same value chain.

This close linkage between operations and technology development helps reduce uncertainty, strengthen documentation of storage integrity, and lay the groundwork for scaling CO₂ storage across Europe. – When experience from Northern Lights is combined with technology development through CLIMIT, we gain an increasingly robust knowledge base for how CO₂ can be stored safely and cost-effectively in future projects, says Jale Mutlu at Gassnova.

On assignment from Gassnova, which coordinates Longship’s benefits realisation work, DNV has conducted an independent assessment of benefit achievement through the end of 2025.

Longship is Norway’s full-scale demonstration project for carbon capture and storage (CCS). The project is now in operation, with CO₂ captured at Heidelberg Materials’ cement plant in Brevik, transported to Øygarden, and injected into the Northern Lights storage reservoir in the North Sea. Hafslund Celsio’s Oslo CCS project is in the construction phase, with expected start-up in 2029. Longship also financed a flexible transport and storage solution with some excess capacity (Northern Lights Phase 1).

– We are pleased that DNV finds that the realisation of Longship represents a breakthrough for CO₂ management in Europe, and that many of the benefits society seeks from the project have developed positively over the past year. Going forward, we will see how Longship can share operational experience from the project with key stakeholders, says Aslak Viumdal, Senior Adviser at Gassnova.

Development of the Demonstration Effect

DNV concludes that the demonstration effect has strengthened since the previous status update. Northern Lights Phase 1 is operational and fully booked, and the investment decision for Phase 2 has been taken. Phases 1 and 2 include commercial agreements for substantial CO₂ volumes from actors in Denmark, the Netherlands, and Sweden.

Oslo CCS has progressed following Hafslund Celsio’s new investment decision in January 2025. Taken together, this demonstrates that a full-scale CCS value chain is technically feasible and in demand. DNV’s report also notes that Longship has contributed to regulatory and commercial learning, and that the project is being used as a reference in the development of new CCS projects across Europe.

Learning Effects and Cost Development

With respect to cost-reduction effects, DNV assesses development as positive, though still difficult to quantify. Experience from Brevik CCS and Northern Lights indicates learning effects related, among other things, to CO₂ transport, standardisation of CO₂ quality, and optimisation of solutions across the value chain.

The investment decision for Northern Lights Phase 2 is considered to strengthen the potential for economies of scale. While specific unit costs have not been disclosed, the growing project portfolio provides a basis for productivity gains over time.

Industrial Development and Storage Capacity in Norway

DNV’s report assesses the overall industrial development effect as positive. The number of storage licences on the Norwegian continental shelf has increased, and Norway has entered into several bilateral agreements on cross-border transport and storage of CO₂. This strengthens the country’s potential as a storage destination in a European CO₂ management market, although reported challenges among operators on the Norwegian continental shelf.

The DNV report further highlights Longship’s contribution to the development of new business models, including low-emission cement and carbon credits from waste incineration. At the same time, it notes that some areas – such as blue hydrogen and domestic demand for CO₂ capture – remain limited in development.

The Value of CO₂ Management

The value of captured and stored CO₂ is assessed as higher than in the previous status report. This is linked to expectations of rising carbon prices and increasing abatement costs for alternative emission-reduction measures. Although capture volumes from Oslo CCS have been somewhat revised downward, the overall effect of stored CO₂ is still considered positive.

DNV’s report also identifies untapped potential for additional benefits from Longship. Gassnova will consider these further, potentially in dialogue with the industrial partners in Longship and other stakeholders.

Status of benefit realization for Longship 2025

The DNV report can be read here (Norwegian).

Photo: DNV

Longship operates with strict specifications which enable both operational reliability and accurate mass balances.

CO₂ Must Be Measured at Every Stage

The capture facilities are responsible for measurements up until the CO₂ is loaded onto ships. From that point onward, Northern Lights takes over responsibility – from transport to subsea storage. Every delivery is thoroughly documented. If the CO₂ does not meet the technical specifications, it can be rejected at the loading stage.

The capture phase begins with the separation of CO₂ from flue gas, followed by purification, cooling, and compression into liquid form. During loading from the capture facility, pressure, temperature, density, and quality are measured. Onboard the ship, each tank is continuously monitored. Upon arrival in Øygarden, measurements are used to verify the delivery and calculate any losses. After injection, the storage site is continuously monitored to ensure that the gas remains safely sealed.

Measurements are carried out using a combination of field instruments and laboratory analyses. The most critical instruments measure quantity, composition, pressure, and temperature. All instruments are regularly calibrated to ensure compliance with international standards.

The animation illustrates how CO₂ is transported by specially designed ships from the capture sites to Northern Lights’ onshore facility in Øygarden. In Øygarden, the CO₂ is stored in onshore tanks before being transported through a pipeline to the well in the North Sea. There, it is injected into the subsea reservoir.

Documenting Climate Impact

Longship demonstrates that carbon capture and storage is not only about technology, but also about documentation. Accurate and verifiable data are essential to meet regulatory requirements and trigger financial support mechanisms. Most important is to ensure public confidence that CO₂ is indeed being permanently removed from the carbon cycle.

More information on measurements in the Longship value chain can be found in this briefing note (.pdf). The note was prepared by Senior Advisors Jale Mutlu and Jan Henry Hansen, both of whom are involved in the follow-up of Longship at Gassnova.

The FEED process is essential for developing detailed technical solutions, cost estimates, and risk assessments.

Certain sections are redacted

In accordance with applicable legislation, parts of the three documents have been redacted. This may include information deemed potentially harmful to business competitiveness.

Documents can be downloaded here

FEED Study Report (20 January 2025)
FEED Study Report (24 January 2025)
Grant Agreement (27 January 2025)

Brevik CCS is a central part of the Longship project and represents one of Norway’s most important climate initiatives in heavy industry. The facility in Brevik is poised to take the cement sector a major step forward in terms of sustainability. CO₂ captured here is transported to Øygarden and then permanently stored beneath the seabed in the North Sea.

Milestone Achieved

On Friday, 9 May, the first major operational breakthrough was achieved. More than 1,000 tonnes of CO₂ were captured and stored in large tanks at the cement plant. This marks part of the ramp-up phase before full-scale operations begin.

Giv Brantenberg, Managing Director of Heidelberg Materials Northern Europe, explains that the facility reached mechanical completion in December 2024, and that the team in Brevik has since worked intensively to prepare and test the plant under real operating conditions. As a result, 1,000 tonnes of liquid CO₂ were safely stored in the early morning of 9 May.

Brevik CCS. Photo: Brevik CCS

Breakthrough for Cement CCS

Brevik CCS is the world’s first full-scale carbon capture plant integrated into a cement facility.

Ready for Northern Pioneer

While commissioning at Brevik continues, the transport element is also coming into place. Northern Lights’ purpose-built CO₂ carrier, Northern Pioneer, is being prepared to collect liquid CO₂, including from Brevik, and transport it to interim storage at Øygarden outside Bergen. From there, CO₂ will be sent via pipeline to a storage site deep beneath the seabed in the North Sea.

Together, the Longship project marks the beginning of a new era for CCS globally.

In 2024, the Northern Lights Joint Venture (NLJV) continued its work to support the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS), through operational activity and knowledge sharing. As part of the Longship project, Northern Lights has contributed to the wider CCS community by participating in conferences, hosting visits, and publishing insights aimed at informing policy, industry, and the public.

Growing Interest in Øygarden Facility

Northern Lights’ visitor centre in Øygarden recorded 5,025 visitors in 2024, organised into 306 groups. Since construction began in 2021, the facility has hosted a total of 11,513 people from 70 countries. Visitors have included representatives from industry, government, academia, and civil society.

To improve visitor coordination, a full-time liaison role was introduced, and a digital booking system was launched. A formal visitor policy was also established to ensure consistency in how visits are managed.

Presence at Industry Events and Conferences

In 2024, Northern Lights took part in 124 events including conferences, roundtables, and webinars. The aim has been to share technical experience, participate in policy discussions, and build awareness of CCS among relevant stakeholders.

At the annual Northern Lights Summit in September, more than 100 participants attended in person, with 500 following the event online. The programme focused on cross-border cooperation, commercial frameworks, and developments in carbon markets.

First CO₂ Ships Delivered

Two purpose-built CO₂ transport ships, Northern Pioneer and Northern Pathfinder, were delivered from the shipyard in 2024. These vessels were designed for safe and efficient shipment of liquefied CO₂, from capture sites in Europe to the receiving terminal in Øygarden.

The construction process provided important lessons. Modifications were made to improve flow capacity based on testing, and simulations helped assess vessel behaviour under different operational scenarios. These adjustments contributed to a more efficient delivery process for the second vessel.

Operational Insights and Learning

As CCS projects advance, differences in development pace between emitters and storage providers remain a challenge. Northern Lights highlighted the importance of clear communication, early alignment, and regulatory support to address delays in decision-making and investment.

Technical research also pointed to the need for updated CO₂ quality standards. Small amounts of certain impurities may increase the risk of corrosion in infrastructure. Northern Lights plans to continue monitoring CO₂ composition during operations, and will share its findings with relevant industry bodies.

Communication and Media

Northern Lights saw increased media interest in 2024, resulting in 481 articles in national and international outlets. Stories covered project milestones and explored CCS as part of the broader climate policy landscape.

The celebration of the completed Øygarden facility in September was a focal point, attracting close to 1,000 participants and wide press coverage. The event included a site tour, technical presentations, and cultural elements from the local community.

On LinkedIn, the company reached 18,000 followers, an increase of 50 percent. Content focused on project updates, educational posts, and event announcements.

Looking Ahead

In 2025, Northern Lights will focus on preparing for the operational phase, continuing knowledge sharing, and supporting commercial scale-up. Planned activities include participation in industry forums, contributions to research, and engagement with stakeholders across the CCS value chain.

The company will also support the Norwegian government’s Longship celebration in June 2025, marking a new chapter for CO₂ transport and storage in Europe.

For more information, please see the Annual Experience Report 2024 – Lessons learned andthe Annual Benefits Realisation and Knowledge Sharing Report from Northern Lights.

The two cornerstone projects are now 95.1% and 99.1% complete, respectively, according to the Spring 2025 progress report by Gassnova SF.

Brevik CCS

At Brevik, the CO₂ capture facility operated by Heidelberg Materials conducted its first successful “catch-and-release” operation in February. The plant is on track to begin regular operations in summer 2025, capturing approximately 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually.

Northern Lights

Meanwhile, Northern Lights, developed by Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies, has completed commissioning of its CO₂ reception terminal in Øygarden. Northern Lights received its first two transport vessels, Northern Pioneer and Northern Pathfinder. The infrastructure will support the permanent storage of CO₂ 2,600 meters beneath the North Sea.

Oslo CCS

Hafslund Celsio has also restarted construction of the Oslo CCS facility, after receiving final investment approval in January. Set to become one of the world’s first full-scale carbon capture plants for waste incineration, the facility will be operational by 2029 and will capture 350,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, half of it biogenic.

Growing commitment in Europe

Beyond Norway, Europe is showing growing commitment to CCS. Sweden’s Stockholm Exergi is investing SEK 13 billion to build one of the world’s largest carbon removal plants, while the UK has approved its first commercial carbon storage site. The EU’s Net Zero Industry Act and Clean Industrial Deal are also accelerating decarbonization through policy and funding support.

The Longship initiative is positioning Norway as a global CCS leader, supporting the EU’s climate goals and paving the way for industrial carbon removal across the continent. As CO₂ capture, transport, and storage systems begin to integrate across national borders, 2025 marks a critical turning point in Europe’s low-carbon transformation.

Where does Longship stand today, and what could follow in its wake?

Technological Advancements and Cost Reductions

Longship contributes to technological progress in CCS. The project aims to identify opportunities for cost reductions through experiences gained during construction and operation. For example, insights from the Brevik CCS project have demonstrated how carbon capture can be optimized through energy efficiency improvements via heat integration. This may result in lower operating costs, which are crucial for making CCS commercially viable.

Northern Lights has developed transport and storage infrastructure with excess capacity, allowing for future scaling to meet growing demand.

Re-start at Klemetsrud

A key component of the Longship project is Hafslund Celsio’s carbon capture facility at Klemetsrud in Oslo. The facility is scheduled to be operational by the third quarter of 2029, and will capture 350,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually. This will cut nearly 20 % of Oslo’s remaining fossil emissions, making it a crucial step toward the city’s climate goals.Hafslund Celsio has partnered with Aker Solutions and SLB Capturi Norway to bring the project to fruition. The captured CO₂ from Klemetsrud will be transported and permanently stored by Northern Lights beneath the North Sea seabed.

Developments on Multiple Fronts

Longship has sparked industrial activities, particularly in Øygarden, where Northern Lights has established an intermediate CO₂ storage facility. This facility serves as a platform for further development of carbon management technologies. Longship has become an international benchmark for CCS. Projects across Europe and beyond are looking to Longship for insights and lessons learned. This has helped build confidence in CCS as a viable emissions reduction technology. By demonstrating the full value chain, Longship provides industry and policymakers worldwide with a concrete example of how CO₂ management can be realized.

The project has also played a role in shaping policy frameworks for CO₂ management. Industry stakeholders have contributed data and insights to inform new European regulations. Through recently established bilateral agreements with several European countries, Longship has laid the foundation for a future European CCS market.

Longship as a Catalyst

Longship has the potential to become a cornerstone in the global effort to manage emissions. As demand for storage capacity grows, the project could help accelerate the implementation of CCS worldwide. This will be crucial for achieving climate targets in Norway, Europe, and beyond.The project has also spurred innovation in business models related to low-emission products. For example, cement from Heidelberg Materials’ plant could be marketed as a low-emission product, once the CO₂ capture process begins in Brevik.

The Road Ahead

Despite its successes, Longship has faced challenges such as delays and cost overruns.
Key takeaway is that business models need to be strengthened, and additional incentives must be introduced to encourage investments in CO₂ management.Longship represents a step toward innovation, international technological collaboration, and industrial development. These will be essential in achieving sustainable solutions and economic transformation in the future.