Without CCS it is impossible to achieve zero-emission production of, among other things, cement, artificial fertilizer and waste-based energy.
Why CCS is important
The IPCC found that in order to meet the challenging targets of the Paris Agreement, global CO2 emissions must be reduced by 50-85% by 2050. IEA findings state that to achieve these targets, 14% of the total emission reductions by 2060 must come from carbon capture and storage (CCS).
CCS is today the only way to decarbonize some of the world's critical industrial sectors, including cement, metal production and waste incineration. This is an important climate contribution because the global cement industry alone accounts for around 8% of all CO2 emissions.
Decades of CCS research experience
Together with our partners at NTNU, SINTEF researchers have worked with CCS for several decades. Today, SINTEF conducts research on the entire value chain for CO2 capture, transport and storage.
The Norwegian Government recently announced the Longship project. Longship is a full-scale demonstration project of CCS, in which the results of several years of research are being realized.
The storage capacity in the geological formations on the Norwegian continental shelf gives Norway great opportunities to create value and new green jobs by realizing CCS.
CCS research expertise
SINTEF hosts the Norwegian CCS Research Center (NCCS), a continuation of the successful research center BIGCCS. NCCS aims to investigate solutions to key technical and cost challenges so that we can quickly implement CCS at large scale; its activities also support the Norwegian full-scale project, Longship.
Our researchers work closely with both academics and industry partners to ensure that research results can be put to use by industry.
CCS research laboratories and infrastructure
SINTEF invests heavily in research infrastructure. SINTEF offers many specialized research facilities that are relevant to CCS research, such as research on CO2 storage at the Reservoir Laboratory and the Multiphase Laboratory.
SINTEF is a member of ECCSEL, a network of European CCS research infrastructure. 11 relevant laboratories in Oslo and Trondheim are available as part of this pan-European distributed research infrastructure.
Use of captured CO2 (CCU)
CO2 captured from emission sources (CCU) can be converted into valuable chemicals and materials. Together with carbon capture and storage (CCS), the use of captured CO2 will have a positive climate effect. Reusing carbon not only reduces total CO2 emissions, it will also generate an economic benefit for industries that emit CO2, by creating valuable products instead of costs associated with storage.
At SINTEF we research and improve CCU technologies and processes to reduce energy use, develop efficient and scalable processes, and create new products from CO2. The goal is to maximize product yield, utilize waste and by-products, and promote sustainable carbon management.
