Europe’s Carbon Storage Era Begins in Earnest

Northern Lights and Porthos start CO₂ storage, signaling Europe’s move from CCUS planning to full-scale delivery

16 Oct 2025

Europe’s carbon capture and storage ambitions have finally crossed from theory into action. Two landmark projects, Northern Lights in Norway and Porthos in the Netherlands, are now entering operational mode, turning years of feasibility studies into real infrastructure and investment.

In Norway, Northern Lights, the joint venture between Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies, has begun injecting CO₂ into storage sites beneath the North Sea. The facility will initially handle 1.5 million tonnes of carbon each year, with long-term plans to expand to more than five million by 2028. Backed by a NOK 7.5 billion investment and a 15-year deal with Stockholm Exergi to store 900,000 tonnes annually, the project represents one of Europe’s most advanced steps toward industrial decarbonization.

Across the North Sea, the Netherlands’ Porthos project has completed a 20-kilometer offshore pipeline linking Rotterdam’s industrial heartland to depleted gas fields. Built by Allseas’ vessel Lorelay, the pipeline will transport captured CO₂ from factories for permanent storage, with operations targeted for 2026. While final permitting and financing details remain, construction progress signals strong momentum.

Together, these projects are reshaping Europe’s carbon capture, utilization, and storage market. For the first time, companies can sign binding transport and storage contracts instead of relying on early-stage memorandums. Pricing structures are evolving too, with capacity reservations, throughput fees, and penalties for underuse becoming standard features.

The road ahead still carries risks, including reservoir performance, long-term monitoring, and high capital costs. Yet industry confidence is rising. Aker Solutions, for instance, is in line for a possible role in Northern Lights’ Phase 2 expansion.

For emitters, the signal is unmistakable: now is the time to secure access to Europe’s emerging storage network. With Northern Lights and Porthos setting the pace, the continent’s carbon economy is moving from promises to practice.