CO2-storage

CO₂ warms the Earth

CO₂ is a greenhouse gas that causes the Earth's temperature to rise and ultimately leads to climate change. Industrial companies emit a lot of CO₂. Think, for example, of the chemical industry, oil refineries, and steel mills. It is difficult to make these companies' production processes more sustainable so that they emit less CO₂. This is because the necessary technologies do not yet exist or are not effective.

The European Union aims to be climate neutral by 2050

The European Union (EU) and the Netherlands aim to be climate neutral by 2050. This means that the EU and the Netherlands will not emit more greenhouse gases than they absorb. This also applies to the Netherlands.

CO₂ storage helps achieve climate goals

It is difficult to quickly make Dutch industry fully sustainable through technologies such as electricity and hydrogen. Therefore, the government is encouraging the storage of CO₂ in depleted gas fields under the North Sea. This is also called Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). It involves first capturing CO₂ from industry and then permanently storing it deep underground in the North Sea.

The depleted gas fields under the North Sea offer space for large quantities of CO₂. By permanently storing the CO₂ there, it is prevented from being released into the atmosphere. This storage contributes to achieving climate goals. The government has no plans for onshore CO₂ storage.

Examples of CO₂ storage projects

Currently, there are several projects in which companies capture and store their CO₂:

• The Porthos project, in which CO₂ from Rotterdam's industrial sector is stored in a depleted gas field under the North Sea. Porthos will store approximately 37 megatons of CO₂ in total. That's approximately 2.5 megatons of CO₂ per year for 15 years. The Porthos system is currently under construction and is expected to be completed in 2026.
• The Aramis initiative, in which companies from all over the Netherlands will store CO₂ in multiple gas fields under the North Sea. The aim is for Aramis pipelines to transport 22 megatons of CO₂ per year to depleted gas fields under the North Sea. Aramis is expected to launch in 2030.
• The Netherlands is collaborating with Germany on the Delta Rhine Corridor project. Several companies are constructing pipelines to transport CO₂, among other things, for storage at Aramis.
• Northern Lights is a CO₂ storage project in Norway. 0.8 megatons of CO₂ per year from the Dutch company Yara Sluiskil will be stored under the Norwegian seabed. This will take place for 15 years, starting in 2026.

Reusing CO₂ also helps achieve climate goals.

Besides storing CO₂, it can also be reused. This is called Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU). CO₂ can be reused for various purposes:

• building materials;
• chemical production processes;
• as fuel;
• protein for animal feed;
• in greenhouses, where plants grow thanks to the CO₂.

For example, the industry in the Botlek area supplies CO₂ to horticultural companies in the Westland region. A waste incinerator in Duiven also supplies CO₂ to horticultural companies in the eastern Netherlands.

Risks of CO₂ storage and reuse

CO₂ occurs naturally in the air and is non-toxic. In large quantities, the gas can be dangerous because its weight displaces oxygen. The chance of CO₂ escaping from depleted gas fields is very small. Natural gas has been stored in these fields for millions of years without being released into the atmosphere. The pipelines used to transport CO₂ must meet strict safety requirements to prevent leakage. These pipelines are also regularly inspected by independent parties.

Permits required for CO₂ transport and storage

Permits with strict safety requirements are required for CO₂ transport and storage. These requirements are laid down in the Mining Act. The State Supervision of Mines monitors compliance with the Mining Act.