The Road to Longship

Norway’s commitment to carbon capture and storage (CCS) began to take shape in the early 2000s.

In 2001, a government-appointed committee was tasked with assessing how research and development could contribute to more environmentally friendly use of natural gas. The committee recommended establishing a dedicated technology company. The second Bondevik government followed up by making gas-fired power generation with carbon capture and storage (CCS) a key energy policy priority. White Paper No. 9 (2002–2003) subsequently proposed establishing a state-owned organisation dedicated to innovation in environmental technology.

The Gas Technology Fund

In 2004, the Norwegian Parliament (Storting) approved the establishment of the Gas Technology Fund, which began financing research and development in 2005. The fund was later incorporated into the CO₂ Management Fund, administered by Gassnova. Established in 2005, Gassnova was given joint responsibility for the CLIMIT programme together with the Research Council of Norway. The programme was approved under EEA regulations in 2006. The initiative was partly driven by the political debate surrounding gas-fired power generation in the 1990s, which highlighted the need for technologies that would enable the use of natural gas without a corresponding increase in CO₂ emissions.

Gassnova as a State Enterprise

In 2007, Gassnova was reorganised as a state enterprise, providing a more predictable framework and a stronger foundation for long-term activities. At the same time, costs, technological maturity, and potential health and environmental concerns associated with amine-based CO₂ capture received increasing attention in public debate. During this period, the CLIMIT programme developed into a key instrument for building expertise, advancing technology and reducing costs, while also helping to strengthen research and industrial communities working on carbon capture and storage (CCS).

Mongstad as a Technology Testing and Learning Centre

Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) opened in 2012, providing facilities for testing and further developing CO₂ capture technologies under realistic operating conditions. This helped reduce technological uncertainty and strengthen the knowledge base for the continued development of carbon capture and storage (CCS). TCM also contributed to increased international cooperation, particularly with the United States, and played an important role in advancing the technologies that later helped pave the way for a full-scale CCS demonstration project.

Towards the Need for a Complete CCS Value Chain

In the years leading up to 2020, the need for a full-scale demonstration project covering the entire CCS value chain, from CO₂ capture to transport and storage, became increasingly clear. International climate commitments, the need to reduce industrial emissions, and the development of a European market for CO₂ transport and storage highlighted the importance of a comprehensive approach. After several decades of research, technology development, testing and feasibility studies, the conditions were in place to realise a full-scale CCS project.

The Decision to Approve Longship in 2020

In 2020, the Norwegian Parliament approved Longship, Norway’s first full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) project. The project includes CO₂ capture at Brevik CCS and Oslo CCS, with CO₂ transport and permanent storage provided by Northern Lights.

Longship builds on several decades of research, technology development and experience gained through initiatives such as the CLIMIT programme and Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM). The project represents a major milestone in Norway’s commitment to CCS and offers valuable lessons for international deployment.
By demonstrating an integrated CCS value chain, Longship facilitates knowledge sharing, technological advancement and the development of commercial CCS solutions across Europe and beyond.

Key Pillars

The CLIMIT programme and Technology Centre Mongstad (TCM) continue to play key roles in the development of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. In 2025, the CLIMIT programme was reorganised to simplify decision-making processes and improve efficiency. Through changes in its ownership structure, TCM has maintained its position as an internationally leading testing facility for CO₂ capture technologies.

Norway’s experience with CCS highlights the importance of long-term commitment, knowledge sharing and continuous technological development. These have been essential prerequisites for the realisation of Longship and continue to lay the foundation for the further development and deployment of CCS.

The Way Forward

With infrastructure now operational and growing interest from European industrial stakeholders, the conditions are in place for further CCS development and stronger international cooperation. Norway’s experience demonstrates how sustained, targeted efforts by the research community, industry and government, supported by political decisions, have laid the foundation for the realisation of Longship and the establishment of an operational CCS value chain.