Longship; Facilitating Economic Development

Longship has opened the door to entirely new value chains in CO₂ management, by investing in open infrastructure with overcapacity and flexibility for future growth. Furthermore, demonstrating industrial CO₂ management provides valuable insights into technologies and solutions in a market expected to grow substantially.

Economic Development

Longship has triggered a range of industrial activities in Øygarden outside Bergen, where Northern Lights has established an interim CO₂ storage facility. This facility serves as a platform for the continued development of carbon management technologies, including Direct Air Capture (DACCS). DACCS captures CO₂ directly from the atmosphere, offering the potential for negative emissions. Longship has already inspired studies and pilot projects related to this technology, which may be crucial in achieving net-zero emissions in the future. However, these technologies are in the early stages of development, and it remains uncertain how quickly they can be scaled up.

Longship has been an important step in advancing economic development related to blue hydrogen. Blue hydrogen is produced from natural gas while capturing and storing the CO₂ emissions. Combining hydrogen production with CCS creates export opportunities and strengthens Norway’s position as a global supplier of low-carbon solutions. The hydrogen market remains immature, and its future role is still uncertain.

Job Creation and Skill Development

Longship has generated significant economic activity, especially during the construction phase, and has contributed to job creation in Norway. Additionally, the project has increased demand for specialized expertise in CO₂ management, giving Norwegian technology environments and supplier industries a competitive advantage.

Longship as an Export Commodity

Longship demonstrates how CCS can become an export commodity for Norway. By offering storage capacity to European countries without suitable geological formations, Longship creates new market opportunities. Norway has already signed bilateral agreements with several European countries. Northern Lights has sold the overcapacity from its first development phase to projects in Denmark and the Netherlands. This reflects the growing demand for such storage services.

Innovation and Future Potential

Longship has also fostered innovation in business models for “low-emission products.” Cement produced at Heidelberg Materials‘ plant will be marketed under the name evoZero once the CO₂ capture process begins in Brevik. Developing business models for low-emission products is considered vital for the commercial growth of CO₂ management. Longship has also contributed to the commercial development of carbon capture and storage for biogenic CO₂ (BECCS). This technology has the potential to remove CO₂ from the atmosphere by combining biogenic CO₂ with permanent storage. The future of CCS is closely tied to advancements in such technologies.

Challenges and The Road Ahead

Despite its successes, Longship has encountered challenges such as delays and cost overruns. To maximize the potential of CCS projects, business models must be strengthened, and additional incentives introduced to encourage investment in CO₂ management. Longship represents a step forward in innovation, international technological collaboration, and economic development – crucial for achieving sustainable solutions and economic transformation in the years ahead.