Technology is no longer the primary constraint. Instead, challenges related to value chain integration, access to transport and storage, standardisation, and credible monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) are increasingly decisive. Projects perform best when CCS and CDR are approached as integrated value chains, with clear ownership and strong coordination from an early stage.

What will drive progress going forward?

Project maturity is critical. High-quality front-end planning, disciplined change control, and early operational readiness reduce risk and improve cost and schedule performance. At the same time, access to transport and storage infrastructure remains a key gating factor across Europe. Here, hub-based systems and flexible solutions stand out as important enablers for scale.

Greater standardisation and alignment are also needed, particularly related to CO₂ specifications and MRV. More robust and practical frameworks will help build trust and unlock investment. Predictable conditions and improved risk management are key to ensuring bankability.

Operational experience is another central takeaway. Projects such as Longship provide valuable insights that help reduce cost and risk for future developments. Open knowledge sharing and stepwise scale-up will be essential going forward.

For CDR, delivery discipline must be combined with market development. Stronger demand, clearer frameworks, and continued government support will be necessary to achieve scale.

These are just some of the insights from this year’s summit.

When Gassnova, together with CEM CCUS, IEAGHG, Mission Innovation CDR and ZEP, invites participants to Knowledge Sharing 2026 from 14-17 April, it marks a breakthrough – not only for Norway, but for the global effort on carbon capture and storage (CCS). For the first time, real, operational experience from a complete CCS value chain, Longship, will be presented – from capture to transport and permanent storage. The event brings together industry leaders, public authorities, research institutions and project developers from around the world.

Global learning

The ambition of Knowledge Sharing 2026 is to contribute knowledge. Through a comprehensive programme, more than 90 speakers will share experience from, among others:

• Operational capture facilities
• Transport solutions developed for CO₂ to geological storage
• Storage in offshore geological formations
• Interaction between industry, authorities and regulatory frameworks

Leading role

Knowledge Sharing 2026 underscores Norway’s role as a driving force in the development of CO₂ management. – As the title of the event suggests, knowledge sharing is central to this gathering. This is particularly true for Longship, where sharing is a guiding principle for the state’s involvement in the project. Knowledge sharing is also important for the other CCS and CDR topics presented in Sandefjord. Collectively, this will help reduce costs, risks and barriers for the further development of CO₂ management, both nationally and internationally, says Thomas Skadal, CEO of Gassnova.

Comprehensive programme

Knowledge Sharing 2026 covers the entire CCS and CDR value chain over three days – with keynotes, panels, pitch sessions and ten workshops. Topics range from CO₂ transport, storage and capture to financing, insurance, MRV and regulatory frameworks. In addition, five side events will be held:

• 14 April 09:00-10:30 Value chain reality check: Is CO₂ storage the real bottleneck for scaling CCS in Europe?
  
• 15 April 18:15-19:15 International carbon management developments
  
• 16 April 08:00-10:30 CEM CCUS and MI CDR Members’ meeting
  
• 16 April 10:00-12:00 ECCSEL ERIC

• 16 April 10:00-16:30 BioCCUS Workshop

Participants will also be offered tailored site visits to the Longship projects Brevik CCS, Oslo CCS, Northern Lights and the Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM). Knowledge Sharing 2026 provides valuable insight into the development of sustainable business models for CO₂ management going forward.

Gassnova has compiled extensive learning over several years from the development of Longship. The reports might be downloaded here.

Technology Centre Mongstad. Photo: TCM

Continuation of the operation requires a stronger commercial focus. TCM will rely increasingly on revenue from the users of the facility, e.g. technology suppliers, industrial emitters, research institutions and others. The agreement enables TCM to reform its business model.

Since its establishment in 2012, TCM has operated as the world’s largest and most flexible open test facility for CO₂ capture technologies and associated aspects. The Norwegian state has been the primary contributor throughout this period.

Under the new agreement for the period 2026–2027, the ownership structure will be as follows:

• The Norwegian state (Gassnova): 43,6%
• Equinor: 28,2%
• TotalEnergies: 28,2%

Shell has been a partner in Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) since its inception 13 years ago but has now decided to conclude its productive collaboration with the centre.

As TCM enters its next operational period, it will evolve its activities to reflect a more commercially driven approach. Further, TCM will accommodate the needs and the challenges identified by project and technology developers.

“I am pleased that the owners have decided to extend TCM’s operations,” says Svein Ingar Semb, representing Gassnova as chair of the TCM Company Meeting (Board). “The coming period will require increased focus on external revenue and continued operational efficiency. TCM’s mission remains unchanged: to provide reliable, independent testing that reduces risk for technology developers and CCS project owners.”

Over the past decade, TCM has made a significant contribution to the development and maturing of CO₂ capture technologies, which are now being used in several commercial CCS projects. The centre has conducted +28 test campaigns, +70,000 hours of experience to support performance validation, safety assessments, and operational learning for technology vendors and project developers. TCM’s work has played a pivotal role in advancing large-scale capture efforts, including the technology used in the Longship project in Norway.

On 17 June, Longship was formally put into operation. The occasion was marked through an international conference in Oslo and the opening of the CO₂ capture plant in Brevik. This signalled that the world’s first complete CCS value chain is now operational.

CO₂ is safely stored

Today Northern Lights reports the first volumes in the permanent storage site beneath the North Sea seabed. – (…) We now injected and stored the very first CO₂ safely in the reservoir. Our ships, facilities and wells are now in operation, says Tim Heijn, Managing Director of Northern Lights.

Gassnova follows up Longship on behalf of the Norwegian state. This includes monitoring progress, risks and milestones with the industry partners in the project. – Today’s event in the North Sea must be called the milestone of milestones in Longship. It is an important recognition of the industry partners’ efforts throughout all phases of this project. Gassnova congratulates Northern Lights, Heidelberg Materials and Hafslund Celsio on what is a decisive success factor for Longship, says Thomas Skadal, CEO of Gassnova.

Longship is a national investment with global significance – demonstrating how government, industry, and the research community can work together to realise future solutions.

From Vision to Reality

Longship’s story is deeply tied to the development of Gassnova. This year marks twenty years since Gassnova was established as the state’s enterprise for CO₂ management, founded in response to an energy supply crisis, the gas-fired power plants at Kårstø and Mongstad, and growing concern over their emissions. There was also a growing recognition that continued fossil energy use without carbon capture would be incompatible with international climate obligations.

Gassnova was given a clear mandate: to develop, demonstrate and mature CCS technology to reduce costs and risks, allowing private actors to take the lead in the future. For years, Gassnova and the Research Council of Norway supported technological development through the CLIMIT programme, closely monitoring both national and international pilot projects. Yet one thing was missing: a full-scale demonstration facility covering the entire value chain from capture to storage. With Longship, that missing piece became a reality.

Within the Longship project, Gassnova represents the government’s interests during planning, construction and operations. The enterprise also holds an additional responsibility: to ensure lessons from the project are shared widely. Together with the Ministry of Energy and the industrial partners, Gassnova’s efforts have helped make Longship an international reference project for CCS.

The development of CCS technologies also has a strong foundation at Mongstad. The Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) is one of the world’s leading CO₂ capture test facilities. TCM was established with support from the Norwegian state, Equinor, Shell and TotalEnergies. For more than a decade, the centre has delivered crucial insight into efficiency, safety, and cost drivers in the capture process. These insights were a key part of the technology choices made in Longship.

The Parliamentary Decision

In 2021, the Norwegian Parliament voted to finance Longship with broad political support. It was clear that the state would need to shoulder a substantial share of the cost. This was not just a technological undertaking—it was a strategically important climate measure.

Longship was structured as a value chain comprising three main elements: Brevik CCS, operated by Heidelberg Materials; Oslo CCS, led by Hafslund Celsio; and Northern Lights, a joint transport and storage company established by Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies. The state entered into separate agreements with Heidelberg Materials and the Northern Lights joint venture for investment and operations. Oslo CCS received its support later in the process.

Three Major Projects

The Northern Lights project has been a breakthrough. In Øygarden, a fully developed reception terminal with port infrastructure and CO₂ tanks has been completed. It will receive liquid CO₂ from the capture plants and inject it into subsea reservoirs beneath the North Sea. With Northern Lights, the infrastructure is in place for future growth and for exporting CO₂ storage services to Europe. Recently, the Ministry of Energy approved Phase 2 of the project, which will increase the transport and storage capacity from 1.5 million to at least 5 million tonnes of CO₂ per year. This phase involves expanding the onshore facilities at Øygarden and increasing the number of offshore injection wells from two to four.

In Brevik, Heidelberg Materials has built the world’s first carbon capture plant at an operating cement facility. It will capture 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually from cement production. The plant is fully integrated into the daily operations of the factory and provides valuable knowledge on safety, energy optimisation, and full-scale operations.

Oslo CCS plans to capture 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually from the waste-to-energy plant at Klemetsrud. This project sends an important signal to major cities around the world: that even urban emission sources can eliminate their CO₂ and contribute to net-zero targets. All three projects have faced different technical and financial challenges. That is, in fact, the essence of a demonstration project. Risks must be identified, addressed and reduced so that future players will face lower thresholds for investing in CCS.

Collaboration Makes Longship Possible

Longship is defined by a close and structured collaboration between industry, government, and academia—a typically Norwegian model that has proven resilient in climate work. Industry’s willingness to invest, the state’s capacity to provide support, and the role of researchers in analysing and documenting the process are the cornerstones of Longship. In addition, Norway’s highly skilled technology environments have followed the project closely with a research-oriented focus.

Longship as a Global Learning Arena

Longship is more than a Norwegian industrial project. It is a demonstration project for the world. For Europe, it is a real climate project that enables emissions cuts in heavy industry. This makes Longship unique.

Combined with the test results and experience from TCM, Norway has developed a CCS value chain that is not only operational but also exportable. Together, Longship and TCM represent a unique platform for further international learning and cooperation.

From a global perspective, Longship demonstrates that CCS is a real and available climate measure. Reducing emissions in heavy industry, energy, and waste incineration cannot be solved through electrification or hydrogen alone. CCS will be an essential part of the climate toolbox – and Longship proves that it is achievable.

Gassnova has published a number of technical and regulatory learning reports. These reports are open and accessible to all future CCS projects, both in Norway and internationally.

What Now?

Longship is operational. The real work can begin. Several European industrial companies have already signed agreements with Northern Lights to deliver CO₂ to the Øygarden terminal. With advantages in geology, technology and political experience, Norway is now playing a global role in the development of CO₂ storage – just as it once did in the development of oil and gas in the 1970s.

Longship is more than a project. It is a roadmap. It is the proof that industrialised countries can take climate commitments seriously without dismantling their own industries. With Longship, Norway takes on an important role in helping the world reach its climate goals. According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, CCS projects like Longship are essential for achieving global emission reductions.

The Longship has set sail.

Thomas Skadal joins from his position as CEO of Biozin Holding, which he has led for nearly seven years. Prior to this, Thomas held various positions at ExxonMobil, both nationally and internationally, over a span of 20 years.

Experienced leader from the energy sector

– We are very pleased to have Thomas on board. He brings extensive experience from the energy sector, with a background in environments closely aligned with Gassnova’s areas of operation. Thomas is also the kind of leader who can guide the knowledge-based organization Gassnova in the direction we envision. We are entering a very exciting phase of development for the company and a crucial period for CCS, says Trond Moengen, Chairman of the Board at Gassnova SF.

Before joining Biozin Holding AS, Thomas had a long career at ExxonMobil, holding various leadership positions both in Norway and internationally. His experience spans from refinery operations to international trading and business development.

At Biozin Holding, Thomas led the company through an extensive development phase, where the Biozin project in Åmli became the first Norwegian project to receive funding from the EU Innovation Fund. He also played a key role in negotiations when Equinor joined as a new partner in the company in 2023.

Combined with a master’s degree in finance from the Norwegian School of Economics and a background in the Armed Forces, Thomas Skadal possesses strong professional and strategic expertise that Gassnova will benefit from in the years ahead.

Close and strong collaboration

Thomas looks forward to starting at Gassnova on May 1st. – Taking on this leadership role allows me to become part of a highly competent knowledge environment for CO₂ management, also on a global scale. This provides the best foundation for the launch of the Longship project, in close collaboration with industry players and in alignment with the expectations of the Ministry of Energy. I look forward to working closely with the board, the ministry, and the employees as we continue to develop Gassnova together.

Thomas Skadal replaces Morten Henriksen, who has chosen to pursue new opportunities outside the company.

The resignation is due to family circumstances and a commuting situation that has become too difficult. Morten has therefore decided to prioritise his family.

“Morten has done a very good job at Gassnova during his time here. The Board greatly appreciates the work Morten has done and believes that the company is developing well and is well equipped to play an important role in the further development and deployment of CCS in Norway. We are also pleased that Morten, together with the rest of management and the board, will continue the good work until his departure,” says Chairman Trond Moengen.

The Board is now starting the recruitment process with the aim of having a new CEO in place at Gassnova when Morten is due to step down in March 2025.

This MoU will legalize the transnational shipment of CO₂ for storage within the territories of the involved countries. Previously, cross-border transport of CO₂ for storage was not permitted. Reversing this is critically important in the development of the Longship project.

– We have always had strong believe in Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden would reach an agreement on CO₂ transport for storage, regardless of the borders between the countries. With this, another barrier has been cleared, allowing CO₂ to find its way to the storage facilities on the Norwegian shelf. This also highlights the importance of Longship as a demonstration project and the renewed interest in CO₂ management as a climate solution in Europe – says Aslak Viumdal, senior advisor at Gassnova and responsible for benefits realization in the Longship project.

In a statement from the Norwegian Ministry of Energy, Minister Terje Aasland emphasizes the agreement as important for the climate, Norway’s attention to the energy sector, and the country’s focus on CCS.

A proposal for how the project can be implemented has been prepared in collaboration between a number of key actors within the Norwegian policy instrument framework – Innovation Norway, the Research Council of Norway, Siva, Eksfin, DOGA, Enova and Gassnova.

The policy instrument actors have committed to the work of classifying and reporting on green projects. This effort is not only a response to the government’s mandate but also an expansion of the existing cooperation to promote green growth. Through close dialogue with the NFD, which acts as a coordinator among relevant departments, it is ensured that the project is developed in harmony with the overarching goals for the environment and climate.

Three ministries are central

Ministries such as the Ministry of Climate and Environment (KLD), the Ministry of Education and Research (KD), and the Ministry of Energy (ED) play key roles in this process – through their ownership and management of respective entities such as Enova, the Research Council and Gassnova.

Starting this year, the actors will implement a classification of projects assumed to have a positive effect on climate and the environment, based on six environmental categories. This includes a commitment to develop a guide for green project classification and reporting, which will facilitate case handling and ensure involvement of relevant departments in an appropriate manner.

The further development of the reporting solution will also focus on the “do no significant harm” principle, which lays the groundwork for a differentiated assessment of the projects. There is a push for a dynamic development of the reporting system, which can be adjusted based on experiences and general development within the field. 

Norway takes the lead

In a time when climate change poses one of the greatest challenges for global sustainability, Norway takes the lead with this new initiative. The core is to promote sustainable growth through a systematic approach to project categorization based on environmental impact. By providing detailed statistical data and clear guidance for environmental categorization, the aim is to enhance project developers’ ability to carry out measures that are both innovative and environmentally friendly. This occurs in line with the EU taxonomy for sustainable economic activity – ensuring Norwegian projects to meet not only local but also international sustainability standards.

Challenges and solutions

One of the biggest challenges in the implementation of green project classification is the complexity related to evaluating projects’ environmental impact. Therefore, simplified assessment criteria are proposed balancing the need for thorough environmental assessments against the feasibility of the projects. This will ease the burden on project developers while simultaneously improving the availability and quality of environmental data for the public and decision-makers.

A differentiated system ensures that projects of various scales and nature can meet sustainability requirements without being overwhelmed by the complexity of reporting requirements.

The way forward

To ensure that progress and experiences are shared, the policy instrument actors will report to the NFD by the end of May this year, with a status update on the implementation of classification and reporting. This will be followed by an evaluation to measure the effectiveness and impact of the measures, forming the basis for decisions and adjustments in the work going forward.

 

SHAPE project

Surface uplift is measured with millimeter precision by surveying or satellite monitoring (InSAR, GPS). When the surface rises, there is room for more CO₂. In the Algerian Sahara, surface uplift around CO₂ injection wells has been linked to stress changes in the rocks above the reservoir. At sea, measurements of water pressure on the seabed can provide similarly high precision. SHAPE is the acronym for this technology. The SHAPE project focuses on dynamic storage capacity, distribution of CO₂ in the reservoir, unwanted fracturing, and injection outside the desired zone. More results will be available in autumn 2024. Stay tuned!

Better equipped

Factors such as station stability, network design, sensor behavior, tides and other oceanographic variations affect accuracy. By analyzing a large data set from the Troll field. Some corrections have been improved and some sources of error have been isolated. The pressure drops and compaction of the rock as a result of gas production is the opposite of what is expected with CO₂ injection. But the measurement method is the same. Probably also the elastic properties of the reservoir rock. Different uncertainties described make it easier to predict detection limits when planning monitoring projects.

Troll&Aurora

The project has analyzed data from about 100 stations over the Troll field in the period 2000 to 2017. The seabed in this area has been sinking at an average rate of almost one centimeter per year. During this period. The North Sea has received about four million cubic meters more seawater because of gas production at Troll.

The errors within each series of measurements have a standard deviation of 2-3 millimeters. Some of the measurement foundations have moved in relation to the ground. The fact that the reference level for depth is floating (sea level) adds to the uncertainty.

Based on the subsidence data and the pressure drop measured in the wells. The project can estimate the pressure drop in the water-filled formations below and to the side of the gas reservoir. In addition, the properties measured in the Cook and Johansen formations in well 31/5-7 southwest of Troll (Northern Lights’ Aurora CO₂ storage site) are used to estimate that the seabed above Aurora can rise by 10 centimeters or more even at moderate injection pressures.

Implications for future CCS projects

Such monitoring may be valuable for future CO₂ injection. A resolution in the conversion of uplift to reservoir pressure of perhaps 1-2 bar can be valuable in verifying flow models. For example, it can help to locate pressure barriers in relation to an injection well and thus be used to control the injection rate.

Mature enough to monitor CO₂ injection

– The project would never have got off the ground without the support from the CLIMIT programme. The measurement technology would have existed, but without these improvements it would not have been targeted at CO₂ injection and storage,” says Ola Eiken at Quad Geometrics.

He goes on to say that the technology for measuring seabed uplift is now mature enough to monitor CO₂ injection. “A remaining bottleneck is practical experience and analysis tools (software) to link observations and modelling of pressure changes in the reservoir.”