Aker Carbon Capture and Microsoft pursue joint carbon capture services

Aker Carbon Capture and Microsoft will demonstrate the full value chain of carbon reduction and removal utilising Aker Carbon Capture’s proprietary CCUS technology and Microsoft’s digital capabilities to enable the ecosystem for the voluntary carbon market, providing traceability and data – ensuring high-quality carbon credits.

The companies say that CCUS is a critical solution to achieve the large carbon reductions and removals needed for the world to reach net zero emissions. New and innovative business models that cover both physical and digital value chains and enable companies to move forward fast, are required.

Aker Carbon Capture’s purpose is to enable large-scale carbon reduction and removal from industry around the world. With the introduction of carbon capture as a service, the barriers for emitters to act on their emissions are significantly lowered. The company is determined to scale its solutions while being aligned to the Paris Agreement. It aims to halve the carbon intensity of its carbon capture solutions by 2030 and to be net negative in the same period.

“Collaboration is the key to success and a pre-requisite for reaching net zero. By fully using the digital capabilities and domain expertise of our two companies we can support industrial emitters to take action and accelerate the deployment of carbon capture,” said Valborg Lundegaard, Chief Executive Officer of Aker Carbon Capture.

Microsoft and Aker Carbon Capture have a history of successful collaboration, including an MoU signed in March 2021 with Danish energy company Ørsted to explore opportunities to deploy carbon capture at a bio energy plant in Denmark.

In February, Aker Carbon Capture and Northern Lights JV signed a non-exclusive Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on realization of CCS projects in Norway and across Europe. The MoU also seeks to optimize logistics and standardise ship-shore interfaces.

Northern Lights is developing an open and flexible infrastructure to transport CO2 from industrial emitters by ship to a receiving terminal in western Norway for intermediate storage, before being transported by pipeline for permanent storage in a geological reservoir 2,600 meters under the seabed. Operations are scheduled to start in 2024.

Also in February, Aker Carbon Capture and Dan-Unity CO2 of Denmark signed an agreement to develop flexible CO2 transport solutions. The companies will also identify technical and commercial risks across the CCS value chain, including capture and liquefaction technology, loading and offloading operations, offshore offloading, intermediate storage and permanent subsurface storage.