A Historic Transformation in Decarbonization Technologies Led by Norway
In 2025, the world witnessed a significant increase in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) capacity. According to the latest reports from the International Energy Agency (IEA) and the Global CCS Institute, the operational capacity for capturing CO₂ globally has surpassed 50 million tons per year, marking a substantial leap compared to previous years. In line with this, Norway’s Longship project—one of Europe’s first full-scale industrial CCUS projects—entered the operational phase this year.
Longship Project: A New Model for CCUS Worldwide
Longship is a massive project in Norway initiated by the government in collaboration with the private sector. The main goal is to capture CO₂ from heavy industries and transport it via sea to underground reservoirs in the North Sea.
Key Features of Longship:
- Capturing CO₂ from Norcem cement plant and Celsio waste-to-energy facility
- Phase one capacity: 400,000 tons CO₂ per year
- Transportation infrastructure using specialized ships and subsea pipelines
- Storage in depleted oil fields beneath the North Sea
- Storage operation managed by Northern Lights (a joint venture of Equinor, Shell, and TotalEnergies)
Key Point: Longship is the first European project to implement the entire CCUS chain—from industrial capture to transportation and permanent storage—at an industrial scale.
Global Carbon Capture Status in 2025
Alongside Longship, several other projects worldwide have come online:
- Two Direct Air Capture (DAC) projects in the USA with a combined capacity of 2 million tons
- Expanding CCUS projects in Saudi Arabia, UAE, UK, and Australia
- The total global carbon capture capacity now exceeds 50 million tons per year
However, the IEA warns that to meet climate targets by 2030, this capacity must increase to at least 1,000 million tons per year (1 gigaton).
Strategic Goals and Impacts of the Longship Project
- Serving as a model for similar projects in Europe and globally
Norway’s Longship provides a successful execution pathway for countries like Germany, the Netherlands, France, and even Middle Eastern nations. - Cementing Norway’s role as Europe’s carbon storage hub
Thanks to its vast North Sea storage capacity, Norway can also store carbon for other countries, generating new revenue streams. - Attracting investment and global confidence in CCUS
With over $2 billion in government investment, Longship has bolstered private sector investor confidence in CCUS feasibility.
Longship’s Impact on the Energy Industry
- Major oil companies like Equinor, Shell, and Total directly participate in the project
- The project demonstrates that the oil and gas industry can play an active role in emission reduction, rather than being just a pollution source
- Many refineries, chemical industries, and power plants now view the Longship model as a proven operational blueprint
The Future of CCUS Post-Longship
With Longship operational, it is predicted that:
- CCUS projects in Europe will more than triple by 2027
- Carbon storage service prices will decrease due to competition and capacity growth
- Regional collaborations for CO₂ storage from countries lacking infrastructure will expand in Norway and the UK
- CCUS will shift from a “luxury” option to a cost-effective tool for heavy industries
The launch of the Longship project and reaching 50 million tons per year of global carbon capture capacity signal the relative maturity of CCUS technology and its entry into industrial commercial deployment. This milestone heralds a future where industry, climate, and economy can simultaneously progress on a sustainable path.
For countries like the UAE and companies such as Aras Energy, lessons from this project can guide the design of similar CCUS initiatives in the Middle East—especially for gas power plants, refineries, and blue hydrogen production.
