– Being able to say that you were involved in this 50 years from now will be fantastic, says Pål Steinar Johansen. He and Joakim Larsen are dressed in protective equipment and are looking at the construction work that is going on at the cement factory of Heidelberg Materials in Brevik. Larsen and Johansen both come from industry, but have now started completely new jobs. They will capture and purify CO₂ that is usually released from the cement factory. – This is the industry of the future, says Larsen. – Many people put their trust in this technology from a climate perspective. What is it like to be a part of this? – It is super fun. Being first is always the most fun!, says Johansen. At Steinar Johansen has worked at the factory in Brevik for many years, but is now ready for a new job as a carbon trap. Photo: Sindre Thoresen Lønnes / news Soft training In Brevik, the plan is to capture 400,000 tonnes of CO₂. Something that corresponds to about half of the annual emissions to the factory. – This makes us the most modern cement factory in the world, says operations manager at the factory Tor Gautestad. The facility is to be ready at the end of 2024. Therefore, the new carbon capturers will need a lot of training. It happens through simulation. The carbon capturers make no secret of the fact that they want to get started soon. – We are starting to get impatient, says Johansen with a smile. The project in Brevik has received a lot of attention recently. Both French and German TV have recently visited. The operations manager has no doubt that their project is part of the solution to global climate emissions. He thinks it is crucial that they close. – I think this has seen momentum in similar industries that have large emissions. A lot of people will follow if it is a success in Brevik, says Gautestad. Investing NOK 20 billion The CO₂ capture at the cement factory is part of the Langskip project, which is Norway’s major investment in carbon capture and storage. CO₂ must be captured in cement production and stored in tanks. Then it is sent by the guard by ship to the west country. There, the carbon is stored under the seabed. Capture and storage of CO₂ has been controversial. The technology has been difficult to realize, and it is an expensive way to cut emissions. The Langskip project has an estimated cost of NOK 30 billion. The state accounts for 20 of these billions. Energy Minister Terje Aasland (Ap) believes it is right to spend such large sums. – This is an important start to commercial CO₂ capture and storage, says Aasland. – But CO₂ capture and storage is expensive considering how much emissions a cutter cuts. Is it right for Norway to take the lead in this field? – Yes, I certainly thought so. We take responsibility for our climate commitments, and this is one of the important commitments Norway must fulfill, says Aasland. Terje Aasland is Minister of Energy in the Government for the Labor Party. Photo: Sindre Thoresen Lønnes / news Capture and storage of CO₂ Capture and storage of CO₂ is technology that makes it possible to separate and store CO₂ from emissions from fossil power plants and industry. The purpose is to avoid emissions of the greenhouse gas CO₂ into the atmosphere. Often called “CCS”, which stands for Carbon Capture and Storage. With the help of chemical processes, the CO₂ is separated and transported in pipes or by ship to storage places in rocks under the ground or the seabed. In 2007, the state-owned company Gassnova was established in Norway to manage the state’s interests related to CO₂ handling. (Sources: NTB, Wikipedia, Bellona)
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The first carbon traps are in place in Brevik – news Vestfold and Telemark – Local news, TV and radio
