The Crown Prince Haakon of Norway was in attendance as Heidelberg Materials unveiled the cement industry’s first industrial-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) facility.
The CCS facility at Heidelberg Materials’ Brevik cement plant was launched in front of key figures, including Norway’s energy minister Terje Aaslund, Heidelberg Materials chairman of the managing board Dr Dominik von Atchen and more than 320 guests.
Heidelberg Materials has predicted the site will capture around 400,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. This is close to half of the site’s annual emissions.
“Today marks a historic milestone and tectonic shift in the built environment. The opening of Brevik CCS is a tremendous technological achievement that will serve as a blueprint for entire industries as we progress towards net zero and into a new era of sustainable construction,” von Achten said.
“Above all, it is a testament to what can be accomplished when exceptional minds with a shared vision and strong determination come together. I am very proud of our teams and the partners who have contributed to the success of this project. We owe it to each one of them that supplying net-zero concrete is no longer a future ambition but a reality.”
Long-term solution
The Brevik CCS facility is part of the Longship program by the Norwegian Government. The project supports ways to capture carbon emissions from Norway’s ‘hard-to-abate’ industries. The project has seen 30 employees added to help operate the site following intensive training.
The CO2 captured at the facility will be liquified and shipped to an onshore terminal at the Norwegian west coast. It will then be transferred to a permanent storage site under the North Sea via pipeline.
“As a key part of Norway’s Longship programme, Brevik CCS is a powerful example of how businesses and government can work hand in hand to pave the way for a more sustainable future,” Aasland said.
“This form of collaboration can foster innovation and kick-start development of nascent markets for climate technology.”
As the Brevik facility has been progressively made operational, it has already started to capture, liquify and temporarily store CO2. In time, Heidelberg Materials will begin to supply its European customers with carbon captured cement, evoZero.
“Brevik CCS is a true pioneering project. Thousands of people from all over the world have already visited the facility to learn from our experience,” Heidelberg Materials Northern European general manager Giv Brantenberg said.
“This is not just a technical masterpiece, but a concrete example of industrial leadership on climate issues.”
