Norway is preparing to launch the world’s first commercial carbon storage service.

Norway is preparing to launch the world’s first commercial carbon storage service. The Northern Lights project will capture CO2 from European factories and store it under the North Sea. The facility on Øygarden island will collect CO2, transport it through pipelines, and store it deep under the seabed.

This project, a partnership between Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies, is designed to reduce carbon emissions and fight climate change. By 2025, Northern Lights will store 1.5 million tonnes of CO2 annually, with plans to increase to five million tonnes.

The Norwegian government has supported the project financially, seeing it as a key part of its climate goals. This initiative offers a solution for industries like cement and steel that are hard to decarbonize.

Other carbon storage projects are also developing in Europe, such as Greensand in Denmark. Northern Lights has already secured agreements with companies like Yara and Ørsted to store CO2 emissions from the Netherlands and Denmark.

While some environmentalists raise concerns, Norway’s Energy Minister emphasizes that carbon storage is essential for meeting climate goals and supporting industries.