DECARBON 2026: projects driving offshore carbon capture infrastructure in Europe

Core Insights - The article discusses the advancements and challenges in offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in Europe, highlighting the importance of integrated systems and collaborative efforts among various stakeholders in the industry [6][18]. Group 1: Project Developments - Petrofac has been awarded a 12-month front-end engineering design (FEED) contract for the Aramis project, which involves developing a CO₂ transport and offshore storage system [3]. - The Aramis project includes a 200km offshore CO₂ pipeline with a design capacity of 22 million tonnes per annum (mtpa), linking the Port of Rotterdam to depleted gas reservoirs in the Dutch North Sea [2]. - The Northern Lights project in Norway serves as a global reference for open-access offshore CCS, demonstrating a scalable, ship-based model for CO₂ transport and storage [8][10]. Group 2: Industry Trends - Offshore CCS is transitioning from pilot initiatives to full-scale infrastructure development, with a focus on integrated transport and storage systems capable of handling millions of tonnes of CO₂ annually [6]. - The APOLLOCO₂ project aims to establish large-scale CCS infrastructure in southern Europe, securing €169.3 million ($201.9 million) in funding from the EU Innovation Fund [14][17]. - The upcoming DECARBON 2026 congress will address the integration challenges of offshore CCS and the need for flexible approaches to accommodate various industrial clusters and regulatory environments [18][20]. Group 3: Future Outlook - The second-phase expansion of the Northern Lights project will increase its transport and storage capacity to at least 5 mtpa of CO₂, positioning it as a central element in Europe's offshore CCS network [11]. - The integration of CCS with broader oil and gas decarbonisation strategies is becoming increasingly important, influencing investment decisions across the sector [19]. - Discussions at DECARBON 2026 will focus on accelerating deployment and moving towards commercially sustainable CCS systems [20].