Experts on CO2 CCS Converge at NORDICCS Centre

The Nordic nations have embarked on a cooperative venture in the capture of CO₂. Experts in capture, storage and transport of CO₂ are meeting at the newly formed NORDICCS centre for the first time.

Nils A. Røkke, the leader of the new Nordic Centre of Expertise, announced that the centre will conduct a number of studies on how to efficiently capture CO₂ from large point sources and also the possibilities of underground CO₂ storage in the Nordic countries. Røkke is the Vice-president of CCS at SINTEF in Norway.

Nordic Innovation has established the NORDICCS centre and SINTEF Energy Research is the owner of the project. Nordic Innovation has provided NOK 35 million as grant to the centre when it was launched. NORDICCS is a virtual centre. Universities, industries and research institutes in the Nordic countries provide their expertise on CO₂ sequestration to NORDICCS.

Nordic Innovation director, Ivar Kristensen, stated that the Nordic cooperative model between research and the industry will possibly place Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) on the global arena. It was looking for effective participation from the industry for the promotion of user requirements and ensuring that CCS investments are utilized properly.

Røkke added that the NORDICCS centre was interested in implementing CCS in other areas, including cement, pulp and paper production, oil refineries and metal industries apart from fossil power generation. Capture of CO₂ from bioenergy will lead to considerable CO₂ reduction in the atmosphere, he said.

Norcem, a Norwegian cement producer, Gassco, a Norwegian natural gas exports company, Statoil, and Orkuveita Reykjavíkur, an Icelandic energy company, are some of the industrial partners in the centre. 11 research institutes and 17 other institutions and companies are members of the centre.

The NORDICCS centre hopes to draw more industrial participation once it has commenced operations.