Ships, storage, and pipes – and a whole new industry.

“I do believe it. It’s so important to take care of the planet and contribute to a future for the next generation. That’s why it feels particularly meaningful for me to work with what I do.”

Knut Mathias grew up close to nature in the fjord landscape of Ryfylke in Rogaland, west Norway. His interest in mathematics and physics started early, leading him towards engineering studies and work within oil and gas. With 18 years of experience at Equinor, he has held various roles and worked on numerous projects.

In an environmentally-engaged family, his job has led to many discussions around the dinner table. After he started working with carbon transport and storage, he feels he has “risen a bit in the ranks.” But that doesn’t mean the critical questions have stopped. On the contrary. Isn’t carbon capture and storage just legitimising continued CO₂ emissions? And why isn’t the money being invested in renewables instead?

The afternoon sun shines in Øygarden. Together with delegations from Japan and Belgium, we have travelled to the small coastal municipality 50 kilometres northwest of Bergen. In front of us, beyond a sturdy security fence, we see an advanced structure consisting of twelve shiny cylinders towering over 30 metres above the ground, connected to an intricate pipe system. On the inside: emissions captured from European heavy industry.

Like the delegates in suits, we’re here to visit Northern Lights The newly constructed facility is a joint venture between Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies, and will be the world’s first commercial facility for the transport, reception, and permanent storage of CO₂. After several years of planning and construction, the facility is now opened and ready to receive around 1.5 million tonnes of CO₂ annually, which will be transported in large ships from industrial plants where the emissions have been captured.

“From here, a pipe extends into the sea and 2,600 metres below the seabed, where the conditions with porous sandstone are particularly suitable for injecting liquid CO₂. Above this lies shale, a dense rock that keeps the CO₂ in place,” explains Knut Mathias.

In the face of criticism, he is firm in his stance. Climate change is a global challenge, and to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, it will require massive reductions in global CO₂ emissions. The scale of the challenge and the need for speed mean that a focus on renewable energy alone will not get us there. Whether we like it or not, renewable energy sources must be complemented, including with low-carbon technologies. Knut Mathias is particularly concerned with industries that have no way to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions otherwise.

“Cement production, steel mills, and waste incineration are three industries often described in English as ‘hard-to-abate,’ meaning industries that simply cannot be electrified. For we need to build bridges and houses, even in a low-carbon society. Without these industries, that’s not possible. To make ourselves emission-free, carbon capture and storage is one of the mechanisms that must be implemented on a large scale,” he says.